Seaward’s Hand-coloured Postcards of Tauranga

Commentary for these images has been kindly provided by Julie and John Green.

In the sixties Tauranga’s Strand Gardens were the showpiece of the Council’s Parks and Reserves Department, who had two dedicated gardeners with a base opposite Guinness Bros. store (No 1 The Strand, now the SunLive offices), just below the Redoubt. The gardens were always immaculate and colourful, and popular with those who walked through it to enjoy the floral displays renewed with each season.

Strand Gardens, Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Fiona Kean, private collection

The bricks of the wishing well were multicoloured, as shown, although somewhat muted. It contained water, but was covered with safety mesh. The railway is behind the flower beds at left, with a taxi stand beyond and adjacent to it.

Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of the Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0283/09

The Strand railway station is just visible beyond and to the right of the conifer. It was only open when the railcar came through on the way to Taneatua. The building at far right is probably the Masonic Hotel (now Masonic Park) and the present day palms are very small and new in this view.

Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library’s Pae Korokī, Ref. 99-072

Taken from the southern slope of the lower Monmouth Redoubt, the site of Tauranga Moana’s waka, Te Awanui, since the early seventies. The Strand Motel is just visible behind the left of the two buses, at far right.

Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library’s Pae Korokī, Ref. 99-789

An unusual view of the ever present floral ship, probably taken from the vicinity of the Strand railway station, with No 1 The Strand and the Monmouth Redoubt in the background. The house behind the palm is now occupied by Prime Rentals.

Centennial Swimming Baths, Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library’s Pae Korokī, Ref. 99-115

I have lovely memories of swimming, skating and playing at Memorial Park. The moat and castle were additions during my childhood. The boats could be hired and were fun but one got blisters on the handles of the paddles and water came inside and wet the seats and our clothes. The Castle was actually on an island in the centre of the rather angular concrete lake. The coloured fountain beside the high tide mark was pretty special at night.

The swimming baths, now known as the Memorial Pools, a skating rink, the Jaycees bumper boat marina with bridge, and the old-fashioned playground complete with tall rocket-slide. Eventually a loco, tractor and Harvard aeroplane were added for all the small – and bigger – boys.

Memorial Park, Tauranga, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library’s Pae Korokī, Ref. 99-117

A closer view of the Jaycees project, complete with castle and moat. The model engineers’ miniature train line currently occupies this area.