The first state house at 402 Akina Street in Hastings is opened in March 1938. Photo/ Dave Williams (d.1972), gifted by H J Williams
In 1956, Hastings was proclaimed a city after reaching a population of 20,000 people. Its area was 2612 acres (1057ha) – but more land was needed.
Encroachment upon the surrounding fertile rural land was always going to be an issue for Hastings (and Havelock North). In 1957, the areas now known as Frimley and Camberley were added to Hastings' boundary, as well as a small addition to Parkvale.
However, converting the rural land to housing subdivisions moved at a slow pace – especially for builders.
The Labour Government's state housing scheme had begun in Hastings during 1937/38 and the first house was ready in March 1938 in Akina St.
Twenty years later, in 1958, such was the growth of Hastings that new houses – up to 200 per year according to Hastings mayor W. E. Bate - were needed.
To entice people to build new homes, a Parade of Homes was sponsored by the National Housing Council and organised by the Hastings City Council, building industry, manufacturers, financiers, sub trades, furnishers and the real estate institute.
Although most of the homes had been sold already, the objective of the builders was to showcase the modern style of homes now being built and the affordability of them to the middle-class wage earners (which was a male's salary). These homes could be replicated at similar prices elsewhere in Hastings.
The 19 homes were built in Allenby St, and the week before the Parade of Homes opened in March 15, 1958, builders, plasterers, painters and other tradesmen were joined by the Hastings Boy Scouts – who had the task of tidying up the sections.
Buses would leave Westermans for the Parade of Homes, and a creche operated for young children. A refreshment stand and temporary toilet block were built.
At the opening on March 15, the shortage of land for residential housing was mentioned by Mayor W. E. Bate, who said, "We have a very well organised building group here, but it must be frustrating to them because of the desperate shortage of land for dwellings.
"The problem of expansion was a grave one, but we are doing everything possible to solve it."
Labour Member of Parliament for Hastings E. J. Keating echoed these sentiments when he said, "I suppose nothing is brought to the mind more than the inadequacy of housing in his own area."
The Parade of Homes was a success, with an estimated 15,000 people attending during the nine days it was on. This included 45 children from Hastings Intermediate School, under the control of a mistress who visited as part of their social studies class. Other schools attended as well.
House No 4, which was built by J C Mackersey Ltd (now MCL Construction), was 1109sq ft (103sq m) and like all the homes had an emphasis on indoor outdoor flow, with a 160sq ft (15sq m) outdoor terrace which was accessed from the house by wide sliding glass doors. A large wooden screen was erected to give privacy.
Colours made an appearance in these new houses, with J. C. Mackersey Ltd's weatherboard exterior painted in jade green. The interiors were also decorated in modern tastes, including "A note of gaiety is provided by contemporary wallpapers in the dinette".
The bedroom had floral wall paper as a feature wall behind the bed, and the remaining walls decorated in a "a pastel shade of grey".
As selling points, "attention has been given to an important matter from the housewife's point of view – ample cupboard space". For the men "the house gains attractiveness by the provision of a large carport 16 feet by 22 feet (5m by 7m) at the back entrance and there is room for a workbench".
Children were not forgotten, and a door through the carport gave access to "an ideal sheltered ply-area for children".
The cost of the house, excluding the land, was £3670 (2018: $179,500).
Although J C Mackersey Ltd had pre-sold this home, another builder at No 7, was selling the section for £530 ($26,000) and a smaller home for £2900 ($142,000) ‒ a total of $178,000 in today's terms.
* Signed copies of Michael Fowler's Historic Hawke's Bay book are only available from the Hastings Community Art Centre, Russell Street South, Hastings for $65.00
* Michael Fowler FCA (mfhistory@gmail.com) is a chartered accountant, contract researcher and writer of Hawke's Bay's history.