Magazine Article 2005 – Humble beginnings

Humble beginnings

As the 150th anniversary appears on the horizon, Taradale can look back on a history that has seen a small independent township develop into a regionally important business and recreational centre.

Named in about 1858 by an early land leaseholder Henry Alley in honour of his birthplace Tara in County Meath, Ireland, Taradale acquired its own town board in 1886, was declared a borough in 1953 and in 1968 became a suburb of Napier.

Seven years later the opening of Hawke’s Bay Community College put Taradale on the map and helped spur the growth of the modern, lively suburb it is today. Renamed first Hawke’s Bay Polytechnic, then in 1996, Eastern Institute of Technology, it now offers 90 study programmes from foundation to degree and post-graduate level, and is recognised as a leader in forging education-industry links, such as that which led to the establishment on site of Hawke’s Bay’s Food and Wine Centre of Innovation in 2004.

A year earlier the Pettigrew-Green Arena opened across the road, becoming Hawke’s Bay’s largest indoor sports and events venue. With its 2400 square metre stadium, seating for up to 2500 people, and specialist sports facilities, the arena caters for a variety of sports and activities ranging from basketball to aerobics. As well as attracting top-level events, it is also used by numerous local sports groups and provides the regional office for many sports codes and the base for Sport Hawke’s Bay. The main stadium doubles as an all-purpose events/performance venue and is complemented by a smaller, dedicated theatre.

These modern landmarks take their place alongside others from Taradale’s early years, which, refurbished, are once again contributing to the rich fabric of Taradale life.

The Taradale and District War Memorial Clock, built in 1916 and used for Anzac services every year since, is now the symbol of Taradale. Almost a victim of the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake when it tilted 76cm, it now boasts murals depicting each of the military services and was refurbished externally in 2002.

Fast food giant McDonalds has given life to one of the township’s early hotels, the art deco style Taradale Hotel built after the earthquake destroyed its predecessor, itself a replacement for the fire-ravaged Duke of Edinburgh which opened on the site in 1869.

TARADALE 2005

Photo caption – Otatara Pa