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Tea & Talk: History of Ranulph Dacre and the Dacre Cottage
13 December, 2024 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Talk by Felicity Goodyear-Smith on her fully-illustrated book Dacre Cottage and the Weiti Block.
Cost: $10 entrance fee for the talk and visit to Warkworth Museum.
Booking essential: warkworthmuseum@xtra.co.nz
The book tells the story of Dacre Cottage, built in 1855 by Captain Ranulph Dacre for his young son Henry to farm the Weiti block of land, once the kauri trees growing there had been harvested. There are many tales about Dacre, his sailing adventures and trading enterprises, the lives and deeds of his descendants and of many of Dacre’s connections including Eruera Patuone, John Logan Campbell, William Hobson, George Grey, Maurice Kelly. In the 1830s and 1840s Dacre owned the Weiti block and the land around the Tāwharanui Peninsula, much of Mahurangi, the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and.in Mercury Bay. The book also tells of the natural history of this coastal strip between the Weiti and Ōkura Rivers, and of the many community groups and individuals who have fought to protect the forest, the land, the rivers and estuary, the beach and the wildlife from human degradation and development.
This talk will give an overview about Dacre, his family and associates, the history of Dacre cottage and the Weiti block, and community efforts to protect our historical and natural heritage. The main focus of the talk will be on the fascinating tale of Dacre and Gordon Davis Browne and their ill-fated spar station at Mahurangi.
The Dacre Reserve Management Committee is raising funds to publish the book (production and printing costs), All proceeds from sales of the book will go towards the ongoing maintenance and improvement programme for the Cottage and the Historic and Esplanade Reserves. All donating more than $100 will receive a free copy of the book and have their name listed in the book as a donor.
Bank account number 03-0180-0167915-00 (put Book in reference box)
Secretary Dacre Cottage Management Committee (for receipts) mail.shane.d@gmail.com
