News & Events

17 May 2018

Hawke's Bay Founders Mystery Bus Tour

Hawke's Bay Founders Mystery Bus Tour

Sun shines on mystery tour

After heading out in overcast skies and drizzle, Hawke’s Bay Founders members were delighted to find increasing sunshine on their recent bus mystery tour into the Hawke’s Bay countryside.

Following sight-seeing in the hills of the Maraekakaho district, the group enjoyed a superb lunch at the Hawkes Ridge Wine Estate.

Then to a tour of the museum facilities at Ongaonga, where, in the community hall, the group was treated to a talk on the history of that area by Taradale resident, David Cooke. His illustrated talk traced especially, the history of the Coles family of Hampshire, who landed in Hawke’s Bay in 1877, made Ongaonga their home and earned a solid reputation in the area for their design and construction of many fine buildings.

Readers wishing to know more about Founders may contact Richard Bayley, Founders Hawke’s Bay secretary, on telephone 876 7616. 

PHOTOGRAPHS

Paddy Bayley, New Zealand Founders president, left, and Founders members at Hawke’s Ridge Wine Estate.

David Cooke describes the settler history of Ongaonga.

Founders outside the Ongaonga Hall, built by the Coles Brothers and opened in 1910.

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