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HISTORY
"Turanga" was the original name for the area. But in the early 1900s after a shipment of mail was sent to “Tauranga” by mistake, it was decided to change the name to Whitford. Debate still goes on about whether this was named after local flax mill owner and part time postman Mr Richard Whitford, or after the local “white ford” made of white stepping stones that was used to cross Turanga Creek.
The tangata whenua of the area, Ngai Tai, are based at Umupuia and trace their ancestry back to the Tainui canoe. The word “Turanga” has many interpretations but in this case it means “stand firm”, after the safe anchorage the area gave to Tainui.
History of property
Part of the 2500 acre “Whiteford Park” estate was bought in 1869 by Mr LD & NA Nathan. They farmed ostriches and held horse racing events attended by boatloads of Aucklanders who arrived at Mr Nathan’s private wharf. The Nathans, who were merchants and property developers, subdivided the block in 1909.
During the World War II the property was farmed by Bill and Blanche Macey. The property became a dairy farm, complete with a cow shed, on Brownhill Rd. The cow shed has since been demolished, and now an old drilling bore stands at the site. However the original portion of the stables, which was probably built by the Macey’s, will now be used for a temporary cellar door at Turanga Creek vineyard.
Mr & Mrs L F Verrall bought the property and farmed it until 1963, when Norman and Shirley Kent took over. They used the property as a horse stud and added four stables, which are now used for storage. Norm and Shirley were probably responsible for naming the property “Lone Oak”.
Finally, the property was bought by George (Tiki) Whye in 1987. Tiki was a well-known personality around rugby and racing circles, and the “George Whye Kicking Trophy” is still presented annually by Auckland Rugby.
Today the property has been transformed into Turanga Creek vineyard. A place with a colourful history and world-class Auckland wine.
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