Johnathon Brown Homestead, 1878-1979 (Place)

SummaryThe Welcome Bay Homestead stood on land originally confiscated from Ngāti Hē (Ngāi Te Rangi) after the colonial invasion, then acquired after prolonged negotiations and title difficulties.

Built in 1878 by settler Jonathan Brown, predominantly with kauri. Simple twin-gable design, wooden shingle roof, five rooms downstairs, four above. Overlooked Tauranga Harbour, the islands, town, and surrounding country. Grounds included native bush, shelter trees, ornamental plantings, orchard, and kitchen garden.

By the 1880s, it was the centre of a large mixed farm. Known for hosting guests. Upstairs rooms were reached by twin staircases from the front hall: men to the left, women to the right. The two sides were walled off from each other. After Brown’s accidental death in 1895, the property passed through several owners. In 1911, Harry Lysaght bought the 1,800-acre farm. His family lived there until 1923. Around this time the Bank of New Zealand is believed to have foreclosed on the mortgage, giving rise to the local name “Bank Run.” From 1940, the Department of Māori Affairs managed the property, with John and Mrs Cram resident until 1955. During their occupancy, the land was gradually subdivided into smaller holdings. The house was last permanently occupied in the mid-1950s.

In 1974 the Welcome Bay Settlers’ Association tried to preserve the homestead. The effort failed. The house was demolished in 1979. The site is now commemorated as Jonathan Brown Park, a neighbourhood reserve in Welcome Bay.SourcesMove to Preserve old homestead » Bay of Plenty Mirror 19 March 1974Homestead History Recounted » Bay of Plenty Mirror, March 30, 1974Photos Spark More Memories of Old » Bay of Plenty Times April 1, 1977Early settlers in Welcome Bay: Jonathan Brown (Tauranga Historical Society BlogAnn Bowlings sketch of Jonathan Brown's HomesteadCummins, Peg (2015) "A History of Welcome Bay"

Photographs

Archive Items

Our People (authority)

A combination ink line and watrercolour by Ben Cummins. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Ams 538/7/1

Usage

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, Johnathon Brown Homestead, 1878-1979 (Place)

Known Date/s

Date Built1878Date Demolishedc.1979

Location

Map Address20, Homestead Place, Welcome Bay, Tauranga, 3112Latitude/Longitude^[1]

Relates To

Start here:Brown, Jonathan, 1832-1895, (Person)

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

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Johnathon Brown Homestead, 1878-1979 (Place)