Tauranga Photographers: Maurice Anthony Murphy

View from Hopukiore (Mt Drury), Tauranga, c. 1930s-1940s
Postcard format photograph by M.A. Murphy
Collection of Justine Neal

This unusual postcard view of residential Mount Maunganui, viewed from the summit of Hopukiore (Mount Drury) looking in a south-easterly direction, was taken by Maurice Anthony Murphy of The Strand, Tauranga, probably in the 1930s or 1940s. But who was M.A. Murphy? A quick search of PapersPast and Ancestry.com suggests that he emigrated aged 27 with his wife and two year-old daughter from England in 1923, giving his occupation as an outfitter. Initially he worked as a salesman in Gisborne and Auckland, before moving to Tauranga in 1931. His occupation in the electoral roll for 1935 is shown as “manager”, but by 1938 he had become a shopkeeper, and he remained in that occupation until his retirement between 1960 and 1963.

Reverse of postcard by M.A. Murphy of Tauranga
Collection of Justine Neal

He quickly involved himself in the business and social communities of the town, was a keen rower and office holder in the Rowing Club, was elected a member of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce in March 1934, president of the Tauranga Hockey Association (April 1935), a member of the Bay of Plenty Jockey Club (February 1936) and president of the Umpires’ Association. His wife Winifred loaned crockery for use at the Plunket Society’s Christmas Party, and appears to have been involved with the W.C.T.U. Their daughter Heather, then in Standard VI, attended the Tauranga High School ball in August 1932 dressed as a pierrot.

The reference number “101” on the front of the postcard suggests that it may have been one of a series, perhaps even of at least 101 views, but if so where are the others? What was the nature of the shop which had on the Strand, and did he sell the postcards there? The use of a stamp for his name suggests that it was a sideline, or that he wasn’t in the postcard business for long enough to have specially printed cardstock made.

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can shed further light on Mr Murphy and his photographic venture, or if you have postcards published by him, please get in touch at gluepot@gmail.com. Thank you to Justine Neal for the opportunity to share these images.