Durham Redoubt (panel)

(1864-1877).  Built in 1864 by the 68th Durham Light Infantry during the New Zealand Wars, the site is now bounded by Cameron Road, Harington, Durham, and Hamilton Streets. The 68th used Tauranga Domain as their parade ground and camp. The Redoubt was levelled in 1877 and the fill used to raise the level of the adjoining roads.

Map No. 6.
Cnr. Hamilton St & Cameron Rd (east)
Tauranga, 3110.

Durham Redoubt Information Panel (1864-1877), Cameron Road

Built in 1864 by the 68th Durham Light Infantry during the New Zealand Wars, the Durham Redoubt was on the western side of Te Papa Peninsula overlooking Waikareao Estuary. The 68th used Tauranga Domain as their parade ground and camp and artifacts such as military buttons, bullets, ink pots, clay pipes, crockery and bottles for soda, alcohol and salad oil have been uncovered there. Horatio Gordon Robley, was a member of the 68th and his sketches and watercolours of the Māori defences at Gate Pā | Pukehinahina, and other Tauranga scenes have left an important visual record of the time. Following the Battle of Gate Pā | Pukehinahina the 68th garrisoned the Māori fortifications. Durham Redoubt was levelled in 1877 and the fill used to raise the level of the adjoining roads, particularly Hamilton Street. The site retained the name ‘The Camp’ for many years and is now bounded by Cameron Road, Harington Street, Durham Street and Hamilton Street. The Durham Motor Inn was built on the site in 1992 and in 2017 Ngāi Tamarāwaho unveiled an information sign on Cameron Road outside the Inn to record the history of the site.