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Tauranga Bond Store

Est. 1883. Historic Place Category 1. Tauranga Bond Store is the oldest remaining commercial building in Tauranga and was originally sited on the waterfront before land reclamation.

Map No. 29.
No. 1 The Strand
Tauranga, 3110

Current tenant:
Sun Media Limited
HERITAGE Partner

Standing Strong

(Originally published by SunLive on 8 October 2022).

Standing strong at the northern end of The Strand is Tauranga’s oldest commercial building, now one of 72 featured locations in the Ngā Tapuwae ki Te Papa | Footprints on Te Papa self-guided map.

The Strand, Tauranga (c. 1890). A lithographic print of a view taken from Monmouth Redoubt looking south along The Strand. Taken after 1877 as both wharves are shown. Brain’s boatyard in left foreground and Bond Store and Māori Hostel (burned down c.1903) in right foreground. Image Credit: Tauranga Heritage Collection 0124/12.

The Bond Store, a Category 1 historic place, has been the home of Sun Media Ltd, publisher of The Weekend Sun, Coast & Country News and SunLive since purchasing it in 2008.

“Our family and staff took a lot of pride in restoring the building because we think it’s important,” says owner Claire Rogers.

As part of the restoration, Claire and husband Brian Rogers who passed away in September, had large history boards made to provide information about the building’s early years through to the present.

Constructed in 1883 as a warehouse for cargo transiting the adjacent wharves, the Bond Store received its moniker because owner James Mann held the ‘Bond’ for receiving overseas goods, collecting revenue for the Government.

Mann & Co., Maori Hostel, Tauranga (pre 1902). — Mann & Co., Māori Hostel, Tauranga (pre 1902). A sepia print showing a view from Monmouth Redoubt, Tauranga. The former Bond Store (Mann & Co.) and the Māori Hostel are visible in the foreground. Pre dates first Māori hostel fire of 1902. Image Credit: Tauranga Heritage Collection 0355/08.

The solid brick construction and huge kauri beams were designed to carry great loads of cargo on both floors. The bars on the windows allowed air to circulate, but prevented the locals helping themselves to goods before the tax was paid.

Later it became the home of Guinness Bros who sold a diverse range of items such as liquor, farm equipment and appliances.

The macrocarpa stairs replace what was originally a steep kauri barrel ramp, and a unique feature is the brickwork over the doorways and windows, rare examples of simple but masterful workmanship.

The beautiful red bricks are held with mortar from the beach sand, mixed on-site.

Guinness Bros Building, The Strand (c. 1920) [Ams 12]. Guinness Bros building on The Strand, Tauranga, north end, c. 1920. Part of Ams 12 (Records of Guinness Bros, formerly Mann and Co.). Image Credit: Tauranga City Libraries Photo 99-1157.

“Category 1 historic places are of special or outstanding historical or cultural significance,” says Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga lower northern area manager Ben Pick.

In 1986 wine and spirits dealers Hughes & Cossar took over the property; followed by Saunderson Packaging, Tulloch Photography (1987-1997), Creative Tauranga, No. 1 The Strand Restaurant and Bar (1999). Current owner Sun Media Ltd purchased the building in 2008.

“The newspaper industry is an ancient one, and it seems fitting to have a newspaper based in a heritage building,” says Claire. “We are happy to be preserving it for the future.”

Many thanks to Sun Media Limited and Rosalie Liddle Crawford for permission to reproduce this article here.

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Tauranga Bond Store

Standing Strong