Historic Baches on Rangitoto Island

The Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust works to restore Rangitoto's historic man-made structures 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.