New Zealand Walk: Ongaonga Village - steeped in

Ongaonga Village - steeped in

Ongaonga is a historic village 16km west of Waipawa in Central Hawkes Bay, with interesting Victorian and Edwardian buildings where town folk have a passion for preservation.

It is an interesting spot to stop for a 2km short walk through the historic village and up the main street to the general store and back.

Ongaonga has more than its share of history. Set in a peaceful spot a stones throw from SH50, Ongaonga has a collection of historic buildings gathered from all over the district and clustered around the Department of Conservation’s field office to make a picturesque historic village.

Even the DOC field office is a slice of local history, having been the original Pendle Hill Homestead before it was carefully removed from its spot beneath the Wakarara Ranges and shifted to Ongaonga and restored. The buildings include an old school house and a jail.

They fit in well with Ongaonga’s own historic buildings, which include homes, a factory and a general store.

The historic village is open to the public on Sundays from 2pm - 4pm, or by request for group bookings, phone: (06) 856 6735.

Visitors can pick up a map and brochure on any day of the week from the Ongaonga General Store and take a walk through historic Ongaonga village. View the elegant Edwardian buildings, nineteenth century cottages and the most beautiful architecturally designed butcher shop in New Zealand.

History

In the 1850’s the district of Ongaonga was dominated by four large

Above: The general store still in operation today. Left second from top: A typical hut. Left third for top: The butchers shop. Below left: The Ongaonga Police Station. Below right: Inside of a workers hut.

- steeped in history

Below left: The school house. Below right: looking back down Bridge Street in the village. runs, taking the easy country between the Tukituki and Waipawa rivers from the edge of the bush to Waipawa. The early stations were self-sufficient but as these blocks developed and smaller farms grew, a service centre was needed.

Ongaonga was the natural site and the junction of four tracks, to Waipawa, Waipukurau, Tikokino and Takapau. Mr J Newman had built a store in 1869 and in 1879 a two storied hotel alongside the ford, which served these routes.

In 1872 Mr HH Bridge laid out 78 sections from his Fairfield estate, auctioning off 51 sections and giving some for public amenities. The township flourished early last century, the village could boast 29 business premises.

Coaches ran twice daily to Waipawa. The backcountry was alive with bush clearing, sawmills and farm development. A full range of social activities was available, typical of many colonial villages of this time.

Motor transport heralded its decline, but the present locals are fortunate to have retained enough of these early days to make this present village one of historic interest.

These elegant Edwardian buildings are all that remains of the once bustling commercial centre. Built by the local firm Coles around the turn of the last century, the general store once boasted three separate premises, one to right was Bradley’s Bookmakers, centre Coles Bros Builders Supplies, to the left Land Agents and then Gerant Tearooms and soft drinks.

For many years the gallery, was the General Store.

Examples of early cottages in the village. The back one was built around 1878 for Mr Drummond, an engineer. He also crafted violins and constructed :he tote for the old racetrack. The Missionary W Colenso was a frequent visitor here and the local historical Society holds copies of letters from Colenso to Drummond.

Above left: A DOC hut and Jail at the Museum site. Above right: A cottage built in the 1800s.