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Broad Bay, Otago Peninsula
Dunedin, New Zealand
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The Broad Bay Community Centre
The Broad Bay Community Centre Committee administrates the running and maintenance of the Broad Bay Hall and grounds through its regular monthly meetings. Committee members voluntarily provide the energy and knowhow for many of the maintenance and organisational projects required and the necessary fundraising for those and general running costs. In recent years fundraising events have included community dinners, auctions, dance classes, a garage sale and plays etc. Most recent was the Historical Exhibition held over Labour Weekend 2009
The Hall is available for hire to any group or resident of Broad Bay. For instance, the Broad Bay Bowling Club members meet weekly over the winter months, local groups hold regular committee meetings in the hall or Etheridge Rooms, Broad Bay School puts on plays, quiz nights, end of year ceremonies, etc. and individuals have held birthday parties and weddings there.
Another separate committee, comprised 50/50 of members from the Community Centre Committee and the Boating Club Committee of Broad Bay, is currently working on a feasibility study for possible new joint premises on the present Boating Club's site.
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Broad Bay township about 1911.
Hay stacks line the paddocks, reflecting the farming foundation of the area, while the increasing number
of holiday and settler homes nestle down to the Harbour. The Waireka was launched in 1910,
with a licence for 800 passengers: by 1926, the era of the ferry had passed.
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Broad Bay, on the Otago Peninsula, is formed of two bays, Broad Bay and Turnbull's Bay
(originally Smith's Bay), in the shadow of the Harbour Cone.
Wandering Maori had used the Bay in the past, with cooking ovens on the slopes, whares on the shore, and place names. The first Crown Grant Sections were taken up by European settlers in the 1860s,
mostly for family farms: by 1884, there were 19 dairy farmers, and an average attendance of 26 at the Broad Bay School (founded in 1877).
William Larnach used the Bay to land effects and materials for the building of his 'Castle', transporting them up the hill to his 'Camp' on a bridle track which became 'Camp Rd'. The early farmers would boat their produce 'up the river' to Dunedin; when the area became a holiday playground around the turn of the century, many Dunedin people came back 'down the river' to spend their festival days or holidays.
Some of Dunedin's leading families built holiday homes. Many a time the Harbour ferries would be full
to overflowing, especially when attending the New Year Regattas, held for many years.
The ferries also had the job of delivering the growing Peninsula population to and from work in the city.
Wharves were constructed at Ross Point and at the present site, the first being a 'short wharf, followed
by the 'long wharf, which went away out into the channel: it was a long, long walk on a wet day.
The road was completed in pieces, using prisoners from the Land Wars in the North Island,
Chinese Coolie gangs, and road workers. The stone wall is a continuing tribute to their skill.
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The Manapai Cash Store, owned by Archi(bald) Weir, in about 1905.
Weir ran the ferry Moerangi until 1909, when she was taken over by the Peninsula Ferry Co Ltd,
of which Weir was an initial director.
The store was on the corner of Harington Point Rd and James St (now Portobello Rd and Clearwater St). It was developed into a 2-storey shop in 1925, which later had petrol pumps attached at the front, and
a bakery on the side. It finally ceased trading as a store in 1971. This scene shows a busy regatta day.
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