“Batch”. That’s how New Zealanders pronounce “bach”. Bach 117 stands here as a reminder of simpler times. It is a small holiday home. It is a beach house. These baches are iconic. They represent the country’s history and culture.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine New Zealand in the mid 20th century. Roads improved. Cars became more available. Middle-class families could afford beach holidays. They often returned to the same beach every year. Baches began to appear in popular vacation spots.
Bach 117 reminds us of those early baches. They were often built with cheap materials. Recycled items were common. Fibrolite sheets were used. Corrugated iron was popular. Used timber was a favorite. These baches resembled backwoods cabins. They looked like early settlers’ sheds. Some even used old trams. These trams became the core of the structure. Extensions were built onto them.
The bach is a unique artefact. Early baches lacked modern amenities. They often didn’t have water or electricity. Indoor toilets were rare. Furnishings were simple. Secondhand furniture was the norm. Bach 117 stands as a reminder of this past.
The word “bach” has interesting origins. Some thought it was short for “bachelor pad”. However baches were typically family holiday homes. Another theory suggests a Welsh origin. “Bach” means “small” or “little” in Welsh. Welsh miners came to New Zealand during mining booms. The Welsh phrase “Tŷ Bach” means outhouse. It literally translates to “small house”.
Today Bach 117 represents a disappearing era. Traditional cheaply built baches are fading away. Wealthy people can afford holiday homes now. Small and humble designs are less common. It is wonderful to see these buildings preserved. They were built without design standards. Builders used whatever was available. They painted them with cheap paint. But they were much loved. They were much used. Generation after generation enjoyed them.
Rangitoto Island holds a special place in bach history. The first bach appeared here in 1918. Over the next two decades about 140 were built. These were “illegally” built. In 1937 building was banned on the island. In the 70s and 80s most baches were torn down. This happened as the island became a reserve. A moratorium stopped demolitions in 1990. The remaining baches became part of the island’s historic record. These baches cannot be sold to new buyers. Major work is prohibited. Many have been modified and updated. Yet they retain their original character.
Bach 117 embodies the spirit of those Rangitoto baches. Each bach that was removed had a sign. The sign described its history. Some baches proudly displayed their history. They put signs in windows. Some had facilities not up to modern standards.
As we stand before Bach 117 think about Sir Edmund Hillary. Hillary loved the outdoors. His family had a connection to Auckland’s west coast. Hillary had his own bach near Anawhata. He considered it his place of solace. He escaped media attention there. His father-in-law built a bach at Anawhata in 1925. Hillary said it was always good to be going home. It was the only place he wanted to live. It was the place he wanted to see out his days. Bach 117 reminds us of simpler times. It links us to the past. It connects us to the spirit of New Zealand.