People

The Armanasco Family

By Henry Mystery in People

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. When building was completed, Stefano sent back to his home village of St Agata for a bride, Maria, and she came out to join him in 1890. They were married in St Patrick’s Cathedral in the same year and settled to life in the new home at Blockhouse Bay.

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The story behind Craigavon Park

By BHB HISTORICAL SOCIETY Newletter in People, Places

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. Named after Lord Craigavon from Ireland (and Marianne’s birthplace), this park was donated by Marianne Caughey (Mrs W. H. Smith) as a gift to Auckland in November 1929.

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BHB Primary School Memories During WW2

By BHB HISTORICAL SOCIETY Newletter, Audrey Thomas in People, Places

1 April, 2018

Memories of Primary School During WW2

A wet afternoon and a box of old photos needing labelling and sorting, but soon I found myself remembering back to the 1940s. One memory led to another and though the photos are still largely unsorted, I had a fascinating afternoon, even going right back to commencing school during the early days of WWII.

Miss French on chair with flowers.
Miss French at her farwell from Blockhouse Bay School in 1943.

Blockhouse Bay Historical Society

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The Blow family seat

By BHB HISTORICAL SOCIETY Newletter in People

1 December, 2017

The Blow family seat

A Gift To Our Community

From 1939, Helen Blows, with sons Bruce, Keith, Ray and Don, lived at 20 Mitchell Street, and the family were all very involved in Bay life.

After service on the “Leander” in WW2, Bruce Blows, and his wife Billie, bought two acres of land across the road on the corner of Connell and Mitchell Streets and built their home in 1946.

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Blockhouse Bay’s Handweaver Fabric Artist

By BHB HISTORICAL SOCIETY Newletter in People

1 August, 2017

Blockhouse Bay’s Handweaver Fabric Artist - Ilse von Randow

1958 Ilse von Randow

Alexander Turnbull Library

After having the pleasure of hearing at our April meeting, Tyl von Randow’s talk on his childhood in Shanghai during WW2, this is the story of his Mother’s fame here in Auckland as an artist and contemporary designer of hand woven fabrics.

After the communists came to Shanghai, Ilse von Randow and her two sons, in April 1952, through refugee status, settled in Auckland. When Ilse was living in Shanghai she had designed woven fabrics for textile companies, and when settled here, over the next fourteen years, she became a central figure in the establishment of modernist craft weaving in New Zealand.

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Blockhouse Bay WW1 Honours Board 1914 - 1918

in People, Places

Blockhouse Bay WW1 Honours Board 1914 - 1918

Those who died

Surname Given name Rank Service # Regiment Died Where buried or remembered
Abel Arthur Howard 2nd Lieutenant 22159 2nd Batt, Auck. Inf. Reg. 1/9/1918 Bancourt British Cemetery, France
Catton Charles William Private 12/4152 2nd N.Z. M. Gun Coy 15/9/1916 Caterpillar Valley N.Z. Memorial, Somme, France
Catton John Private 12/4153 Auk. Inf. Batt. 21/9/1916 Caterpillar Valley N.Z. Memorial, Somme, France
Flaxman Reuben Private 21244 2nd Bat, Auck. Inf. Reg. 6/6/1917 Westoff Farm Cemetery, Belgium
Hastie John Malam Corporal 12/122728 Auck. Inf. Batt. 4/10/1917 Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
Lamb Edward Thomas Trooper 13/201 Auck. Mtd. Rifles 27/8/1915 Hill 60 N.Z. Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
Oxenham Frederick George Trooper 13/2235 Auck. Mtd. Rifles 14/11/1917 Ramleh War Cemetery, Isreal
Wyman Benson Henry Qtr, Master Sgt. 75218 N. Z. Training Unit 15/11/1918 Featherston Cemetery, New Zealand

Those who returned

Surname Given name Rank Service # Regiment
Alexander George Alfred Able Seaman ANF1461 HMS Pyramus
Alexander Henry Charles Private 12/3933 Auck. Inf. Bat.
Armanasco William Stefano Private 64416 Otago Inf. Bat.
Banton Charles Hamilton Gunner 13/2713 N.Z. Field Art.
Catton Alan Leopold Private 12/4525 Auck. Inf. Bat.
Catton Thomas Robert Trooper 13/2453 Auck. Mtd. Rifles
Davoren John Gunner 50541 N.Z. Field Artillery
Eady Sydney Leslie Corporal 52038 Spec. Coy., Signals
Flaxman Arthur Edward Private 70464 35th Reinf., A Coy.
Gittos Harold Merlin Qtr. Master Sgt. 12/3330 Auck. Inf. Batt.
Hastie Frank Sergeant 13/362 Auck. Mtd. Rifles
Hastie George Qtr. Master Sgt. 12/755 Auck. Inf. Batt.
Henderson James Alexander L/Cpl. 38538 N.Z. Rifle Brigade
Ingram Christopher Captain 12/2902 Auck. Reg.
March Henry Private 78122 39th Reinf., B Coy
McLeod Roy Thomas Private 70508 36th Reinf,. Spec. Com.
Neeley William Private 56176 Otago Inf. Bat.
Uffindell Frederick Private 38772 21st Reinf., E Coy.
Walker George Henry Private 64389 N.Z. Home Service
Walker Harold William Corporal 33979 N.Z.D.C.
Wyman Ralph Major 13/158 Main Body
Based on the list published in the Society newsletter Number 65, April 2015.

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