“Bach” is a Welsh word for small. But did you know baches in New Zealand have become an iconic part of the country’s history? Here at Bach 98, we’re standing before a relic of simpler times.
Baches gained popularity in the 1950s. Roads improved. Cars became more available. Middle-class families could take beach holidays. They often went to the same beach every year. Baches began to spring up in many family vacation spots.
Bach 98 stands as a reminder of that era. These small holiday homes were often modest. They symbolized the beach holiday lifestyle. It became more accessible to the middle class.
They are almost always small structures. Baches usually used cheap or recycled material. Fibrolite and corrugated iron were common. Used timber was also popular. Early settlers’ cabins influenced them. Some baches used a caravan. They built extensions onto it. Old trams were sometimes used. More than 100 trams were relocated to the Coromandel Peninsula.
The New Zealand Maritime Museum has a reconstructed bach. It shows a typical 1950s bach. It is furnished with original products.
Early baches rarely had amenities. Water and electricity weren’t always connected. Indoor toilets were uncommon. Furniture was simple. Often, it was secondhand.
Today, holiday houses are more substantial. They are more expensive. Coastal land values have increased. Stricter building codes exist. Coastal land has been subdivided. More residents and visitors have come. Traffic has increased. Cafes have appeared. Mobile phone coverage is available. Craft shops have opened. Originally, these beaches and gullies were empty.
Old baches often have “existing use” rights. This comes from the 1991 Resource Management Act. Newer regulations wouldn’t allow such buildings. They are prized. Authorities don’t like proposals to convert them.
Rangitoto Island is part of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. It has three Bach Settlements. These are at Rangitoto Wharf, Islington Bay, and Beacon End. The settlements were built in the 1920s and 30s. They had private holiday dwellings and boatsheds. Communal facilities included paths. A swimming pool, community hall, and tennis courts were also present. A prohibition order in 1937 stopped further building. The remnants are now irreplaceable artifacts. They show New Zealand’s architectural and social history.
The Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust has restored Bach 38. It is now a museum. Bach 38 was built in 1928. It was for Mr. Pooley. He was the first caretaker. His appointment was in 1911. He got the bach on his retirement. The restoration took four years. Volunteers and professional builders worked on it. It received an Honourable Mention in the 2008 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards. The museum shows bach holidays from the 1930s to the 1960s. Fishing, swimming races, and dances were common. Families enjoyed simple living.
The RIHC Trust formed in 1997. It retains, restores, and interprets the baches. Bach 38 opened in April 2005. Work has started on Bach 103. It is also called Flounder Inn. Bach 52 at Rangitoto Wharf is also being worked on.
Islington Bay was isolated. The first jetty was built in 1925. A launch serviced the community. Bach holders contracted it. A road to Rangitoto Wharf was completed in 1933. This allowed access for provisions. It also gave access to the island caretaker.
Socializing was informal at first. It happened outdoors or in the baches. Everyone helped build baches. They shared supplies. They took part in social activities.
The Trust has started restoring a mid-1920s bach at Islington Bay. Additions and alterations weren’t allowed. Bach 78 is largely original. The verandah was enclosed. The structure is significant. It represents a Rangitoto bach. It has a prominent position.
Features include aspects of the bungalow/cottage style. It has a low ridge roof. The roof is parallel to the sea. Salvaged materials were used. Improvised building techniques were employed. The bach is extensively glazed. This allows sea views.
The Department of Conservation owns the bach. It has been unable to do maintenance. The bunkhouse was once a honey shed. It processed the island’s famous pohutukawa honey. The bach contains 1930s linoleum patterns. It also has other artifacts.
Bach 98 embodies the spirit of the classic Kiwi bach. It is a reminder of holidays past. A time of simple pleasures. A connection to nature. Generations created lasting memories here.