Considering a spot where travel and trade once thrived? That’s Scott Point. Before roads connected communities, this location was the hub of activity.
Welcome to Scott Point. Today, we will delve into the vibrant past of this captivating place.
The history of Scott Point is rich with Māori heritage. The area was home to ancient peoples. These include Ngāti Kui, Tūtūmaiao, and Tūrehu. Oral history mentions Toi Te Huatahi’s visit to Mahurangi around 800 years ago. His descendants settled here, becoming ancestors of iwi groups still connected to this land.
Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Rongo, and Ngāti Kahu claim traditional land rights in the Mahurangi-Matakana area. These groups are linked to larger iwi like Ngātiwai and Ngāti Whātua. These iwi trace their ancestry to voyaging canoes like the Tainui and Arawa. Conflicts arose over the area’s resources. The harbour was known as Waihē. This means “the disputed harbour”.
In the 1800s, the Crown acquired Mahurangi lands through a drawn-out process. Claims were bought off, and land was sold to European settlers. Surveyor Felton Mathew sought Crown acquisition after Auckland became the capital.
Look south to Maunganui also known as Casnell Island. It is connected to Scott Point by a tidal rock landbridge. Remnants of a pā testify to a long and sometimes turbulent Māori history.
Before 2024, an earlier steamer wharf stretched into the channel’s deeper water. This spot was the focal point of travel before connecting roads existed. Consider trade and day excursions from Auckland. Remember the historic Mahurangi Regatta, dating back to at least 1858.
Thomas Scott Snr. built the Scott Homestead here in 1877. It reminds us of Mahurangi Harbour’s past. This was a busy hub for timber milling, shipbuilding, and trade. Thomas Scott also opened the Mahurangi Hotel or Richmond Inn.
Thomas Scott was a shipbuilder and innkeeper. He purchased land here in 1852. For over 20 years, he built vessels, mainly schooners and cutters.
The annual Mahurangi Regatta celebrates traditional craft. It includes old-school beach sports and yacht racing. The prize-giving dance is held at Scott Homestead. The regatta was resurrected in 1977 after falling out of use after World War II.
The Scott Homestead you see today is a rebuild from 1877. The Scott family leased the home to the Grant family, who offered accommodation. After Janet Scott’s departure, the property declined.
The Auckland Regional Council purchased the property in 1971. This secured the homestead’s future. The Auckland Civic Trust restored the homestead by 1991. Today, Auckland Council administers the property.
Take a look towards the Eastern Peninsular beyond Lagoon Bay. Notice the Norfolk Pine, marking Rodmersham homestead and Dairy Bay. Rodmersham homestead was built in 1884. The Lushington family purchased the property. They brought a fine art collection from England.
Scott Point stands as a reminder of a time when the sea was the highway. It connects us to stories of Māori settlement, colonial enterprise, and community celebrations. As you leave Scott Point, remember its layered past.