A former airbase transformed. That’s Hobson Point today. But its story goes much deeper.
Hobson Point a peninsula jutting into the Waitemata Harbour is more than just a modern development. It’s a place where history whispers from the past. For centuries before European arrival Māori thrived here. Ngāti Whātua and Te Kawerau ā Maki lived off the land and sea. They called this area Onekiritea after the clay soil used for pigment and soap. Imagine their lives. Their connection to this land.
Then came European settlement. In 1853 the Crown bought the land renaming it Port Hobsonville after Captain William Hobson New Zealand’s first Governor. Farming followed but soon after in 1863 a pottery works opened at nearby Limeburners Bay. Clay drainage pipes were produced. Seven companies operated until the clay ran out in the 1930s. A fascinating chapter in Hobson Point’s past.
Hobson Point’s aviation history began in 1929. The Royal New Zealand Air Force established a base here. Catalina Bay was built the same year. A wet apron for flying boats to land. Barracks hangars and houses dotted the landscape. It became New Zealand’s premier flying-boat base. This continued until 1967 when amphibious craft were phased out.
Today those historic buildings stand as reminders of Hobson Point’s rich past. The Sunderland Hangar a gigantic structure now houses a microbrewery and co-working space. The Fabric Bay once the Marine Section is now a sophisticated waterfront café. Even the Armoury now houses the Catalina Bay Farmers Market.
Hobson Point’s transformation is remarkable. From a significant Māori settlement to an airbase and now a thriving modern community. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of this remarkable place. A place you can now explore on foot. Enjoy its views its history its vibrant new life. The past and present intertwine here at Hobson Point a place you won’t soon forget.