Les Goldstone with one of his jersey heifers in 2002.
Les Goldstone can remember delivering cream on horse and sled from his family's land in Omokoroa.
Les' parents Robert and Marj bought the property 76 years ago and fed their family by milking just 42 cows - though Les knows it was a struggle even back then for his parents.
Dairy NZ statistics report the average herd size as 419 in 2015/16, unchanged from the previous season. The average herd size has tripled in the last 30 seasons, and has increased by almost 100 cows in the last 10 seasons. Average effective hectares increased slightly to 147ha.
These days, Les and wife Mavis are settled on a prime site with 360-degree views over their former dairy farm, as a tide of development rises around him.
The Goldstones' Harbour Ridge subdivision - on 26ha of the Omokoroa peninsula - is the latest development transforming the township from its history as an early settlement for farming.
Les and Mavis are happy the venture has been kept in the family, with son Brian undertaking some 300 sections, the first stage release, which are selling well.
Brian says they started work 12 months ago and the first construction will be a preschool, which is being built on one of the larger lots in the first stage.
"We're working on our final design for the whole 26ha, but by early next year you'll see houses under way."
Brian's son Hayden is also part of the venture and has invested in earthmoving machines - a rather big step up from his great grandfather's years on the land.
Les' father Robert bought his first tractor after he spent a year on the job at Temcgo Egg Marketing (Tauranga Egg Marketing Co). He built poultry houses and ended up with 5000 birds, which he had for 25 years.
Les farmed the land with a jersey stud up until 13 years ago but he says farming has changed so much that he does not mind that he's no longer part of it - especially the book work that's involved now.
Having left school at age 15, Les has worked ever since. At 82 he still enjoys harvesting hay and silage, which he began 44 years ago for himself and others in the district.
"We bought the baler for our own use and every year it got busier. In our top year we did 91,000 bales."
Les may be due to slow down, but he does not plan on stopping. From his position on the farm, he can keep an eye on the modern way of working the land in the area, being undertaken by his son and grandson.
"We have just under 50 acres of the farm left, it's a lifestyle block really, for a family to carry it on it wasn't worth it. It's been a good life," says Les.
"The houses [being built in the development] are on the side of the farm we don't see so much as it faces the Kaimais and we're overlooking the harbour.
"We can keep an eye on it and can never be built out," he says.
He is incredulous at future population figures for the peninsula.
The Goldstone name will become part of the Harbour Ridge subdivision's road names, keeping their name in the community forever.
The early days
From the earliest of times, Omokoroa was a place for Maori to inhabit in summer and gather fish and shellfish from its harbour.
There were fresh water springs on the peninsula and ample bush cover to give protection from the enemy.
Tauranga District Council history records that Reverend Gellibrand invested in several blocks of land in the township of Tauranga, but his dream was to make an attractive farm out in the countryside. The Omokoroa peninsula, comparatively close to Tauranga, and easily accessible by boat, took his eye, and he purchased it piece by piece.
A homestead was built on the point, on the area now known as the Gellibrand Reserve.
Anderson Lane at Te Puna Point leads to the land farmed by Andrew Anderson who ran a launch into Tauranga. His two daughters, Effie and Vera, ran the Post Office for many years.
The Prole family, after whom Proles Road is named, had a dairy farm on the Omokoroa peninsula. They were among the first to sign up to provide cream to the Tauranga Dairy factory.
Many emigrants came to the western Bay of Plenty from Ireland. Robert and Margaret Francis came from Ireland in 1900, and settled at Te Puna Point. Francis Road is named after them.