Heritage et AL

The Great Barrier Island Pigeon Post  was the first in the world to use pigeons to deliver mail using postage stamps, although they were “unofficial” stamps. The Great Barrier Island pigeon post service was started after the sinking of the SS Wairarapa in October 1894.  This ship ran aground on the remote north side of Great Barrier Island. Ref:  James Richardson   Showing the Wreck of  SS Wairarapa  at Miners Head, Great Barrier Island, 1894, Sir  George Grey  Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-102 About 121 lives were lost. News of the disaster  didn't  reach Auckland until two or three days later. It highlighted the need for better communication with the island. The first message of the pigeongram service was carried by one of Mr Parkin’s pigeons, on May 14th 1897. You can read the full page article in the Auckland Weekly News here . Ref: Auckland Weekly News, A kit of racing pigeons, 15 September 1899, Sir...

Ref: JTD06E-04475-2, Paratutai Island (foreground), 1977, West Auckland Research Centre Did you know that there was once a small wooden Post Office located at Paratutai Wharf at the base of Paratutai Island in the Waitakere ranges? The building was subsequently relocated to Whatipu, a short distance away. The building is a simple shed with weatherboard walls and corrugated iron gabled roof. It was built between 1870-1909. Ref: JTD-06A-00191, Whatipu Post Office and wharf, 1907, West Auckland Research Centre The building is now part of the Whatipu Lodge complex , located among the dramatic scenery of this area. It has provided accommodation for sightseers for nearly a century. The complex includes the Former Post Office, the Gibbons Homestead (built circa 1867), the four Cabin Blocks (built in 1910) and the Former Dairy (construction date unknown). So if you go and stay at these heritage building during your holidays, have a look around you and you will be rewarded with gli...