Concertina House moments in history

1882: H. Deverell advertises from the Round House, Judea, in May 1882. Bay of Plenty Times, May 1882.

1885: Mr Spencer's property, known as the Round House, to let. Bay of Plenty Times, 22 October 1885.

1899: Judea farmhouse, at junction of Ōtūmoetai and Katikati Roads, leased by Mr Bendall is presently under repair. Bay of Plenty Times, 11 October 1889.

Oral history notes:

• It was taken down in the 1920s. Bettelheim lived there. From notes made at Alf Baikies, 1981.
• Situated on the the right side of Waihī Road, on the corner of Ōtūmoetai Road. Terry McCord possibly 'had it last'. Put his horses on the next section. Taken down in the 1920s. Chum Denniston.

Tauranga Historical Society journal articles:

"...built in 1884 by the Rev. J. Spencer...who resided there for some years. It then passed [to]...his son-in-law, Captain Way, and after him, to his son, Cecil Way...later tenants [included] Messrs. J. Bettelhein...Mr Deverall...Mr Jack Lloyd.

...built on a hexagonal plan, the same being carried on into the roof, which made it resemble the shape of a concertina...painted cream...a large window...in the centre of each wall, except where the front and back doors were fitted. There were two chimneys...Captain Way [reported] that the design was intended so that the house should not catch the wind [being on a ridge exposed to strong south-west winds].

...in the early 'nineties'...lessee...Edward Hamilton, used it for storing chaff made from oats grown there. ...still standing during the First World War. Mr C.M.F. Hayman states he was engaged in its demolition in the year 1919."

Vanished landmarks: The Concertina House by E.L. Ainsworth. Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society, (6), June 1956, p. 8-9.

"old land mark, known as concertina house, owing to its shape, was situated on the Waihī Road, between the Ōtūmoetai and Pokapu Roads. It was double storied having two rooms on the ground-floor with a lean-to on one side for the kitchen. The stairway ran up the centre of the kitchen to two upstairs rooms. It was built of kauri, and was pulled down in 1917 and built into a three-roomed lean-to". 

Some of the pioneer Ridder family and memories of early Tauranga: as told to P.H. Soundy by Mr A.C. (Chris) Ridder. Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society, (23), January-March 1965, p. 8.

Letter to the Editor, Bay of Plenty Times, 4 April 1968

"Sir, I enjoyed Mrs Wickham's reminiscences. I lived in Tauranga as a child, in 1901....On top of the Judea Hill near where a plane tree now grows, stood a building called locally "the Concertina Box". It was two-storey, had only two rooms, but had six windows in each room, being six-sided. It had been used as a lookout in the Māori War. About forty years ago it was pulled down, which seems to me a pity, as I have never seen one like it." E.G., Katikati.