Rare find could become permanent sight

EXCITING DISCOVERY: Archaeologist Rachel Darmody, assistant archaeologist Cathleen Hauman and Tauranga City Council project designer Clinton Bowyer survey the remains of Tauranga's first bakery.PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

The remnants of Tauranga's first bakery could become a permanent sight in a central city park.

Two baker's ovens, one thought to be almost 150 years old, were discovered by contractors working on the Masonic Park upgrade.

Tauranga City Council project manager Tony Bodger said the discovery came as a huge surprise as they did not expect anything to have survived the 1993 demolition of the Masonic Hotel which stood next to where the remains were found.

Archaeologists from Heritage NZ had been on site for about two weeks carefully clearing dirt away from the remnants of the Phoenix Bakery and Cheap Grocery Store owned by the Butt brothers.

"What they've discovered is probably Tauranga's first bakery and everything that goes with it," Mr Bodger said.

The base of a large brick oven filled with round stones and cobbles from the small store in front were thought to have been built in the 1870s, Heritage NZ archaeologist Rachel Darmody said.

"It's unusual to have the stones we've got in it. [The site archaeologist] thinks it's all to do with heating and retaining heat. It really is significant. It's very rare to excavate a site like this," Dr Darmody said.

"It is rare to find such a well-preserved bakery from this time period anywhere in New Zealand. The only other examples we have are from the goldfields of Central Otago and one site in Dunedin. It is exciting to find that part of the early township still survives to tell us more about our past."

The oven may have been about 2.5m high.

"They sold all sorts of things, baking, confectionary and general supplies," Dr Darmody said.

In front of the original shop lay the remains of a slightly newer oven and shop front made from brick and concrete with steel reinforcing, which had not yet been accurately dated.

Amongst the newer parts also lay the base of a chimney thought to be part of the older oven, assistant archaeologist Cathleen Hauman said.

"In the chimney there were lots of clay pipes and sewing needles," she said.

Council staff were working with Heritage NZ to work out how the find could be preserved and left on display as part of the park upgrade.