Upcoming Events

    Local Archeologists
  • DRs. HANS-DIETER BADER & JANICE ADAMSON
  • WEDNESDAY 7 Jun 23 at 1.15PM
  • At the Blockhouse Bay Community Centre
  • The talk will discuss the original Maori settlement in and around Te Whau pa (Blockhouse Bay).
  • *click here for more info*

WWII Veterans

    Prime Minister Helen Clark unveils the new honours board at the opening of the Blockhouse Bay Primary School Performing Arts Centre on the 30 MARCH 2007

From Left: Trevor Welch, Bruce Davis, Nelson Cole, Helen Clark & Alan Ashton. Seated: Des Morgan

Blockhouse Bay Locals

    Trevor Welch with friends Mervyn (Merv) Walkington and David (Dave) Hesketh

during World War II

Blockhouse Bay Boat club

    Pictured at high tide June 2015

Photo credit - K Vickers ©

Do You Remember?

    Do you have personal memories of Blockhouse Bay?
  • Or perhaps stories and memories related to you by a family member or a friend?
  • We would love to hear from you

Welcome to the new website of

Blockhouse Bay Historical Society

We aim to discover and preserve the rich history of Blockhouse Bay, one of the innermost suburbs on the shores of the Manukau Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand. Look at our Diary for the dates of meetings and special events.

The Blockhouse Bay Historical Society Incorporated was formed in 1998 to record and preserve the fascinating history of the area. Since then interest in the Society has intensified, the membership has grown and a great deal of valuable material secured.

Can you help us in our continuing efforts to discover and preserve our rich & varied history?

We are keen to see your special photos of people, places, homes, buildings and events in Blockhouse Bay. Also, invaluable are newspaper cuttings, articles and documents. Oral histories are equally important. If you have any stories or anecdotes from the ‘Old Days’ and even ‘Not So Old Days’, we would love to hear from you.

Searching our articles by Location

If you would like to know something about a particular location try clicking on a blue marker on the map below and then click on the link provided

A Selection of our latest articles

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Blockhouse Bay Surf Lifesaving Club

By Ray Kealey, Kylie Hickey on 22 November, 2022

Blockhouse Bay Surf Lifesaving Club In the late 1930s, a group of young Blockhouse Bay men formed the Blockhouse Bay Surf Lifesaving Club. They took their training very seriously and were coached by Barney Clews. During the week the club members would train at Blockhouse Bay beach doing exercises on the shore, and swimming across from Te Whau Point to the sandbank and back again. On Friday nights they caught a bus to Karekare, where they stayed in the clubhouse over the weekend and did their surf training, before travelling back to town on Sunday night.

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The Armanasco Family

By Henry Mystery on 3 September, 2019

Armanasco House – its family history Photo of the Armanasco Family in front of their house One part of our heritage which has been saved is the historic Armanasco homestead, across the other side of the Green. It was built in 1890 by Stefano Armanasco, an Italian who came to New Zealand in 1885 and bought several parcels of land in Blockhouse Bay. The site he chose for his home was on six acres bounded by Heaphy Street and Blockhouse Bay Road.

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The story behind Craigavon Park

By BHB HISTORICAL SOCIETY Newletter on 1 December, 2018

The story behind Craigavon Park and its connection with a founder of a famous Auckland department store. Craigavon Park is a recreational area in Blockhouse Bay and bordering Green Bay, Auckland. This park with its bush setting with walking tracks, playing areas and children’s playground offers residents of the surrounding area the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors without having to venture far from the Blockhouse Bay main street and shopping area.

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Butcher Shop at 533 Blockhouse Bay Road

By BHB Historial Society Newsletter on 1 August, 2018

Butcher Shop at 533 Blockhouse Bay Road Changes coming in our village mainstreet. The building at 533 Bockhouse Bay Road is due for demolition, because the old original building was moving on its foundations, and it will be replaced with a new shop, and apartments. In about 1930, No. 533 was a purpose built butchers shop. It had sawdust on the floor, a huge wooden butcher chopping block, a rail on which carcasses were hung, as well as a cool room at the rear.

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