Memories of ‘back in the day’ at Pioneer Village

Posters advertising beach front sections for sale in Orewa, dating from the 1920s, promote the beach as “less than an hour’s motor run from Auckland”

Silverdale Pioneer Village’s response to the Auckland Heritage Festival theme ‘Remember When’ was to take visitors on a journey down memory lane with a roomful of displays, photographs and posters.

Many items are from the 1930s, which was chosen because elderly visitors will remember those times, Pioneer Village vice president Christine Carwell says.

Among the items are posters dating from the 1920s advertising quarter acre beach front sections in Orewa for sale.

Although there are no prices on the posters, Christine says she bought a quarter acre section in Whangaparaoa in the 1960s for £600.

There is also a DVD showing the building of the Harbour Bridge.

The display has been running since the two-week Heritage Festival began, on September 24. It ends this week, on October 9, with a special Open Day that includes hands-on activities such as wood-turning and rope making, children’s games, Devonshire teas and a sausage sizzle.

The Open Day is on at the Pioneer Village, 15 Wainui Rd, Silverdale, 10am–3pm. Entrance by gold coin donation.