Mayfield House, was built in 1905 by James William Oliver on Moffats Road, Bethlehem, Tauranga, though some have claimed it was build by Major (later Colonel) Mayfield himself. It featured weatherboard cladding, a corrugated iron roof, a gable-fronted room, and a verandah. In 1909, Major Edwin Mayfield purchased the house, renamed it Hawkridge, and added an extension. He and his partner Neil Chater established a canning factory using Golden Queen peach cuttings bought from the Reeve family, branding their product 'Tauranga Peaches, Hawkridge Orchards.' By 1926, disease destroyed the crops, ending the orchard's operations. The Mayfields continued to live there, but by 1966, most of the land was sold, leaving just the house and two and a quarter acres, owned by Mr. T. Gower. In 1995, Sir Paul Adams bought the property and offered Mayfield House to Tauranga Boys' College, where it was moved to Nicholson Field. Today, it serves as a sports pavilion overlooking the cricket pitch at Tauranga Boys' College.SourcesMemories of Bethlehem, Supplied by Mrs. R.G. Trail: Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society Number 49Mayfield House by Shirley Arabin: Tauranga Historical Society BlogWhy not two markers for Tauranga's 'Golden Queen'? by Violet Macmillan:Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society Number 50New life of learning in historic house: Bay of Plenty Times, 4 February 1995 page 2$75,000 donations enable restoration: Bay of Plenty Times, 5 September 1996
Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 02-569
Usage
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Known Date/s
Date Built1905Date Demolished1995
Location
LocationMoffats Road, Bethlehem, Tauranga (1905-1995)Tauranga Boys College (1995- )