Russell Museum latest exhibition follows on from the Russell School Reunion held over the weekend 20 – 22 November 2015.

Education began in Russell with classes held at Pompallier Mission for Maori students.  After a series of private schools and two public schools a purpose built school was erected on the present site, in Baker Street, in 1892.

The exhibition features photos from the Russell Museum and Russell School collections and there will also be showing footage of the Reunion celebrations.

Senior pupils of the school today are exhibiting their colorful art work – cloaks made of curled paper.

The exhibition will be in place over summer.

Russell Town Council 1956-9
Original photo © Russell Museum

This photo shows the members of the Russell Town Council 1956-9 seated outside the entrance to the Russell Library. The room that the library now uses as a workroom was the Town Council room where meetings were held and the town clerk presided.

Councillors in this photo are back row, left to right: Fred Gooder, Frank Dender, Merv Wallis, and in the front Huia (Birdie) King, Eric Gilmour and Ernie Tinkler town clerk.

All resident in Russell, people with a query or complaint had someone they could readily approach in the street.

It was not until 1923 that a town district was formed, when Russell’s population was about 350. Russell became a County Town in 1974 with a Russell Community Council under the Bay of Islands County Council until 1989. With local body amalgamation we had resident representatives on the Kawakawa Community Board.

Today, in 2007, Russell is represented by the Eastern Community Board but not by someone who lives in the town. There is no one left to buttonhole. Groups like Russell Ratepayers, Russell Protection Society, Russell 2000, Russell Business Association and many others are therefore very important to make sure our voice is heard.

Original photo © Russell Museum

Leo White’s Singer car on Maiki hill in 1930.

This photo shows Leo White’s little Singer car believed to have been the first car to drive up to the flagstaff on Maiki hill in 1930.
Leo worked for the Auckland Weekly News as a photographer and after the war took up aerial photography founding Whites Aviation selling wonderful hand coloured aerial views including the Bay of Islands.

Maiki means the high place and the hill continues to be a focus for our town and popular with visitors who gain a greater appreciation of the beauty of the harbour, coast and islands of the Bay.
It is a focus for locals on March 11 when dawn Karakia are said, remembering the past history of our bicultural town and praying for its future.

Te Maiki te maunga, Kororareka te kainga. Maihi is our hill, Russell our town.

Original photo © Russell Museum

Phyllis Boucher congratulates Charlie Baker

Long hot summer days draw locals and visitors to the beach whether Kororareka Bay, Oneroa or Tapeka. Locals too enjoy a swim, particularly our children who learn to swim as naturally as they learn to walk.

This photo shows two locals in 1936. Phyllis Boucher was the first person to swim Russell to Paihia in 1929 aged 18. Here she congratulates Charlie Baker aged 15, the first boy to swim from Russell to Paihia and back.

The Boucher family of six girls  and a boy grew up half way down Matauwhi Bay Road in a house that was later moved to Te Wahapu (the site of today’s Motel Russell).

Charles William Baker sadly was killed aged 21 in an aircraft accident  while on a training  flight out of Ohakea during World War 2. You can see his grave near the olive trees just inside the Christ Church picket fence.

Original photo © Russell Museum

Percy Kydd with delicious bounty

Here is Percy Kydd with the result of a summer dive in the Bay, a photo taken by Warkworth photographer Tudor Collins in the1950s.
Percy was one of a family of 12 children whose parents were David Henry Kydd and his wife Bertha nee Hau. David’s mother Matilda had been the widow of George Cook, whaler, so David had Cook half brothers and cousins  who established the shore based whaling station at Whangamumu.

In 1911 David and Bertha moved to Russell so their children were able to attend Russell school. Percy himself became  a farm manager for Bay of Islands farm owners.He later moved to Russell working as a builder with Jack Maioha. He died in 1982 aged 66.
Fishing, diving and enjoying the beautiful marine environment is a special feature  of a Russell summer for locals and visitors alike.

B&W photo postcard by Montagu. Russell no. R141. C. 1920s.

From the earliest time the ‘S’ word has been part of Russell.  This old photo postcard shows a metalled track down to Long Beach.  Down below a bathing shed and long drop toilet stand on the foreshore.  In the distance is Wiggin’s small cottage (now replaced by a grandson’s contemporary bach.)  There is no road along the beach.

Long Beach has a long history as a place to relax and enjoy sea, sun and sand. Possibly the first horse race in New Zealand was held there in 1839.  Louisa Worsfold, nee Mair, remembers the track to Oneroa was a favourite Sunday walk in the 1880s.  The town’s prisoners, for whom the police could find no other occupation, made the track.

The Museum has a survey plan of 1925 when the land was subdivided and a road put in.  Owner was Mrs Anderson and surveyors Hung and Alcock.  T Mandeno Jackson, (local agent OR Neumann of Russell), marketed the sections.  Cost £70 – 10% in 6 months 10% at 12 months and the balance at 6% interest.  Stan Edward’s rate demand of 1952-3 was £3/7/11.

Long Beach was also the landing place for people coming from Paroa and bays further out.  Although most were holiday homes, there were a few permanents like Christine Godwin in her creosote bach and Kevin and Val Smith in the 1970s of Adobe Fashions.

Clansman at Russell Wharf c1890
Original photo © Russell Museum

Today, as in the past, most visitors approach Russell from the sea. Russell wharf is our front door.

Old photos from the 1860s show two jetties, north of the present wharf, with tramlines into waterfront stores.

A larger “government” wharf was built on the present site in 1879 and soon lengthened for larger vessels. Most supplies to the town came over it by coastal steamer.

The wharf was rebuilt in 1927 with a large storage shed. Petrol bowsers, new jetties, and sheds for the local fisheries inspector and swordfish club were added later.

In the 1980s the wharf was again rebuilt with a smaller “shed” (the info office) and north and south jetties.

Now, Northland Holdings Ltd has decided, it’s time to remodel again. It won’t be easy with many users with different needs – commercial launches, pleasure boats, tourists, commercial and recreational fishermen, and at times emergency services.

It’s important all affected have their say. We must get it right.

First aerial mail run to Russell

Original photo © Russell Museum

The Russell birdman contest brought excitement and colour to our cold grey winter days  In 1920 another birdman brought intense excitement and wonder to Russell.
Pilot George Bolt brought a seaplane to the Far North carrying not only the local Member of Parliament but also the first aerial mail.
The plane left Auckland at 8.30 am on Friday 9 April 1920 planning to drop mail at various places. It reached   Russell at 11.30am. The travelling speed was 60-70 miles an hour, and weather permitting the seaplane planned to return to Auckland the same day.
By 1931 visiting birdmen were a regular occurrence. A 1931 advertisement featured a Captain Hewitt offering   a regular one and a half hour trip to the Bay of Islands.

Our present birdmen may not fly so far but they surely bring colour and excitement.