Our Treasures: Weaver's Vinery unrecognisable today since Whangārei's founding years

E O Weaver's Vinery in 1900, from the Whangarei Museum archives at Kiwi North. Photos/Supplied

Every town or city in New Zealand probably has at least some streets named after Māori place names, local identities or early settlers, the origins of which are not hard to find.

Whangārei city is a prime example with Walton, Mair, Cafler and Rust being some of the first Europeans to settle in the area having streets or avenues named after them.

Other street names of the inner city may have a more obscure background, perhaps their history remaining elusive such as that of Duke St which can no longer be found on any maps of the CBD.

Edmond Ormond Weaver died in 1936 at the age of 81, having resided in Whangārei for many years.

Vinery Lane is another one of those small, quintessential thoroughfares that has changed dramatically since Whangārei's founding years. There is hardly a structure remaining that would denote the lane's former existence or its previous inhabitants, yet in the archives of Whangārei Museum is an excellent reminder of how this narrow accessway got its name.

The mounted photograph taken in 1900, shows a moustachioed gentleman leaning against a support post within a huge framework of overhanging grapevines with confirmation the scene is of the Late Mr E O Weaver's Vinery. The very source of the Lane's origins.

Edmond Ormond Weaver died in 1936 at the age of 81, having resided in Whangārei for many years. He was the eldest son of Mr John Weaver, who was a horticulture specialist from Wiltshire and "E O" as he preferred to be known, sailed as a teenager with his family to New Zealand in the Zealandia.

Upon arrival in 1874, Edmond Weaver took up a position with Hay's Nurseries, Auckland and by 1879 he had departed for Whangārei where in partnership he purchased "Valley Farm", a large property east of Western Hills, ideal for fruit growing.

Whangārei's settlement soon became a significant horticultural area and by the 1880s large orchards had been established and maintained by early pioneers including the Weavers stretching across from Western Hills up to Whau Valley.

It wasn't long before Weaver owned the farm outright and during 1887 was advertising for sale from "Valley Farm Nursery" all types of fruit as well as young grape vines, trees and shrubs.

During 1890 Weaver relinquished this business, preferring to devote his time entirely to viticulture. The lusciousness of his grapes was renowned and he cultivated his vinery with outstanding success as evidenced by the photograph in the museum's collection.

Initially, one of the early accessways to these vineyards was down Vinery Lane which also headed down to what later became known as Weaver's paddock and Rugby Park. Not only was this area used for horticulture and vineries but the first tennis courts, bowling greens and the first golf links were also established on Valley Farm.

Today it's hard to imagine the chequered history of Vinery Lane which once housed Reed Bros Bottling Factory, domestic dwellings and a boarding house.

The roadway also saw the erection of Vinery Lane Hall used for fencing lessons by Whangarei Swords Club and accommodated students from the Boys' School which had classes commandeered for conversion to an emergency hospital during World War II.

E O Weaver remained on his picturesque property close to the heart of Whangārei for the rest of his life, while all that remains of "old" Vinery Lane are some ancient grapefruit trees, possibly back yard relics of early lane inhabitants.

■ Natalie Brookland is collection registrar, Whangarei Museum at Kiwi North.