Bureta Farm, Tauranga, 1900-c.1974 (Place)

SummaryThe old Bureta Farm is located in Ōtūmoetai on land taken from Ngāi Tamarāwaho (Ngāti Ranginui), Ngāti Tapu and Ngāi Tūkairangi (Ngāi Te Rangi) after the colonial invasion of Tauranga Moana in 1864. Lots 217 (10 acres), 5 (110 acres), and 6 (20 acres) were granted to Māori (Riripeti Whakana, unknown, and Mika and Hohi respectively) but were soon sold to European settlers (A.C. Turner, Thomas Craig, and A.C. Turner).

Bureta Farm was established in 1900 when Bowyer Corbett, a former Fijian planter, purchased land in Ōtūmoetai and named it after the Fijian word for “muddy water.” Known for its dairy operations, the farm changed hands several times, with notable owners including the Ashworths, Commander D.M. Fell, and later the Rushton-Sickling partnership. Subdivision efforts began in the 1920s under Murray Munro but were blocked by regulatory constraints. Commander Fell maintained the property from 1926 to 1938. From 1938, Walter Rushton and his nephews Jack and George Sickling expanded the farm to 147.5 acres, operated it as a town supply dairy, and eventually initiated successful subdivision in response to post-WWII housing demand. Following Tauranga Borough’s boundary extension in 1949, the land was developed into residential sections with new roads (e.g., Bureta, Vale, Rushton Avenues). Portions were donated for public use, forming Bureta Park, Kulim Park, and the Ōtūmoetai Golf Course. By the early 1970s, the original farm had been fully urbanised, with the homestead sold, relocated, and replaced by modern housing.SourcesBureta: Council Interpretation Panel from the 2010sThe Early Years of Ōtūmoetai by Bob Scott, chapter 3 (not yet published)Bay of Plenty Times. (1970, March 21 or 31, Page 7). Kulim and Bureta parks once part of large estate [Bureta Estate farmed by George Sickling, John Sickling and W. I. Rushton from 1937-1950].Bay of Plenty Times. (1926, September 13) Sale of Bureta farmBay of Plenty Times. (1914, July 1) Cleaing sale.Bay of Plenty Times. (1934, December) Obituary, Sir Arthur Fell. His son was Commander D.M FellBay of Plenty Times. (1997, September 4, p. 7) Life on the farm... in Ōtūmoetai, includes photo of Arthur Sickling and sister Mary Lodge.

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The pā site on the Bureta farm, Ōtūmoetai, c 1930s. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 01-015

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Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.CopyrightTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesLicenseCC BY 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Bureta Farm, Tauranga, 1900-c.1974 (Place)

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Date Established1900-1974

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AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | Places

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Bureta Farm, Tauranga, 1900-c.1974 (Place)