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Newsletter Febuary 24 Issue 117

Armanasco House Timeline in Pictures

The story behind the historic house in the heart of our village.

This house actually began life on 6 acres of land between Hill St (now Heaphy St) and Wynyard St (now Blockhouse Bay Road) down to Taylor St. The property was known as ‘Windy Heights’. The home was built in 1890 by early settler Stefano Armanasco, and was located directly beside where the Medical Centre stands today, opposite the Community Centre.

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Newsletter December 2023 Issue 116

  • Reflecting upon the past few ‘not at all what we expected’ years: Cyclone Gabrielle, January - March flooding, White Island eruption, Anzac Day 2020 & Covid-19
  • Looking back on the recent Heritage Festival 2023: Wedding & the Ever After’s photo exhibition at Armanasco House. Images of members: Sheila Sekula, Angela Grace-Jones, Anne Bell & Eileen Rusden
  • Leaving a legacy of local history. In August this year, Blockhouse Bay lost a local legend: Keith Rusden
  • A quiet achiever whose creativity and knowledge enriched the lives of so many. In November this year, Blockhouse Bay lost a well loved local librarian and true advocate for the early history of the Bay: Carol Augustine.

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LYNNMALL SHOPPING CENTRE’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY

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Karla Robertson will be sharing images & stories from 1963 - 2023 celebrating Lynnmall Shopping Centre’s 60th Anniversary

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Newsletter October 2023 Issue 115

  • Sneak peek at a tiny part of what’s in store for you at the Heritage Festival 2023: Wedding & the Ever After’s photo exhibition at Armanasco House.
  • WWII Wedding in the Bay article by Mavis Jones
  • Marriage a little give and take - Central Leader article Jun 2008
  • Patience key to long union - Western Leader article Jun 2012
  • Wedding of Victor Armanasco & Edith O’Brien

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Weddings and the Ever Afters

In collaboration with the Blockhouse Bay Library, the Blockhouse Bay Historical Society presents a dual exhibition of wedding images, stories and memorabilia through time. Both venues are located in the Gittos Domain and we encourage everyone to view these complimentary exhibitions in tandem. There will be a wide variety of images across differing era’s, many sourced from the community as well as our extensive archives. Together, we celebrate the history of love in the Bay. Society members will be on hand to answer questions, expand on stories of local families and guide you through our permanent displays in the oldest surviving settlers cottage in Blockhouse Bay.

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Newsletter August 2023 Issue 114

  • AGM nomination of two new committee members Alan Cole & Ian Printy
  • Hopkins Triple Wedding 1914 photo
  • The legacy of Roy (Tarby) Thompson - then and now
    • Newspaper article 1973 entitled Darby does his ‘something good’.
    • Fast forward 50 years
    • Family Statement 19 June 2023 Roy ‘Tarby’ Thompson

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Newsletter June 2023 Issue 113

  • 100th birthdays for members Nancy Howlett and Sheila Sekula
  • WAAF On Charge - from video interview with Sheila Sekula
  • The Herald Aucklander article Nov 2006 - An Unsung Wartime Hero: Theresia Newmann

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Growing up in the Bay - through the decades...

1930/1940’s memories - Eileen Rusden (nee Eades)

I started school the year WW2 was declared, 1939. Joyce Davis (nee Heron) was in my class right through school. then the Bay was a fairly isolated country village. We lived by the corner of Bolton Street and our nearest neighbor was on the corner of Puketea Street, so there were plenty of empty sections on which to play our favourite game of “rounders”.

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