Walmsley Villa

Est. c. 1873.  William and Sarah Walmsley arrived in Tauranga in c. 1864. William was secretary of the Mechanics Institute and the town’s first librarian. American influences can be seen in the Walmsley’s two bay timber villa which in 1940 later became a private maternity home called ‘Waimarie’.  Today this site is deemed a development site and along with it adjoining property, is up for sale.

Map No. 12.
44 Brown St,
Tauranga, 3110.

William and Sarah Walmsley arrived in Tauranga from Australia in around 1864. William was appointed secretary of the Mechanics Institute and became the town’s first librarian in 1871. American influences can be seen in the Walmsley’s two bay timber villa which was built in around 1873. Sarah died 1901 and William later moved to Auckland where he died in 1913. Walmsley House became a private maternity home called ‘Waimarie’ in 1940, with the layout being altered in 1951 to accommodate surgical patients. By 1960 it was again a private dwelling and today is used as business premises.  Read more here from Tauranga Historical Society Blog