Historic baches on Rangitoto Island

The Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust works to restore the island's historic baches

Rangitoto Island, part of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, is a significant and well known Auckland landmark. Not so well known are the three Bach Settlements on the Island; Rangitoto Wharf, Islington Bay and Beacon End. Built in the 1920's and 30's the settlements consisted of private holiday dwellings and boatsheds as well as communal facilities such as paths, a swimming pool, community hall and tennis courts. As a result of a prohibition order on further building in 1937, the remnants of the Rangitoto Bach communities are now irreplaceable artifacts of New Zealand's architectural and social history.

With demolition of the remaining buildings still a possibility, the worthy work of a trust established to protect what remains of this precious and significant island holiday community has come just in the nick of time. The Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust has been established with the aim to restore and protect the remaining historic baches - and make them available for public use.

The Trust is working in partnership with the Department of Conservation to restore, preserve and maintain the dwellings, establish a museum, and provide interpretational material such as recorded oral histories and photo archives.

Islington Bay
Islington Bay was essentially isolated until the first jetty was built in 1925. The community was serviced by a launch contracted by the bach holders themselves. A road to Rangitoto Wharf was completed in 1933 allowing access for provisions and access to the island caretaker.

For the first decade there were no public facilities so socialising was informal; either outdoors or in the actual baches there. Everyone in the community helped to build other baches, provide and share supplies and partake in the informal social activities.

The Trust has started restoration of a mid-1920's bach at Islington Bay. Because the terms of the lease did not allow for additions or alterations "bach 78" is largely original with only the verandah being enclosed. The structure is considered significant as a representative example of an identifiable vernacular Rangitoto bach with its prominent position and visibility within the Bay.

Its features include many aspects of the bungalow/cottage style with low ridge roof, parallel to the sea and extensively glazed for sea views using salvaged materials and improvised building techniques.

Since the lease expired in the early 1990s the Department of Conservation has retained ownership of the bach but has been unable to do maintenance.

The bunkhouse was once a honey shed for the processing of the island's famous pohutukawa honey. The bach contains examples of 1930's linoleum patterns and other artifacts of the era.

The New Zealand Maritime Museum is sponsoring the restoration as a special project related to their long association with restoration of maritime vessels and Islington Bay.