How about we journey back in time to when Sloanes Beach got its name? Sloanes Beach is more than just golden sand and sparkling water. It is a place steeped in history.
Snells Beach, originally known as Long Beach to early European settlers, tells a tale of transformation. The beach was bought in 1854 by James Snell. He was a Cornish miner.
Snell initially settled on Kawau Island. He had worked in South Australian mines. Snell’s family farmed the land for generations. Imagine the beach as it was then. It was a quiet coastal farm.
Further south, Scottish immigrant Alexander Algie and his wife Mina bought land at Martins Bay. His brother Samuel settled there in 1867. In the late 1890s, the Algie family established a boarding house. It operated until 1941. These families shaped the area. They transformed it from farmland to a holiday destination.
Let’s talk about something unexpected that happened here. In 1904, J Clayden and J Parkinson discovered kauri gum at Snells Beach. During low tide, they extracted seven tons of it. More digs took place in 1907. Most of the work was done by Dalmatian immigrants. Kauri gum was a valuable resource.
By the early 20th century, Snells Beach grew in popularity as a holiday spot. In the 1930s, a metal road connected it to Auckland. This improved access helped boost tourism.
The first block of shops at Snells Beach was built in 1982. This marked a shift. It went from a holiday town to a service center. It became the second-largest commercial center in the Warkworth/Matakana areas. Snells Beach became a permanently settled satellite town of Warkworth in the 2010s.
Snells Beach is part of the wider Mahurangi area. The area has been settled since the 13th century. Ngāi Tāhuhu were one of the first iwi to settle here. Te Arawa and Tainui waka visited the area. Captain Manaia’s descendants intermarried with Ngāi Tāhuhu.
The Māori people settled along the Hauraki Gulf shores. They moved between kāinga based on seasonal resources. Snells Beach and Algies Bay were protected by headland pā. These looked towards Kawau Island and Moanauriuri, an important shark fishery.
Snells Beach is also an isthmus. It lies on the Mahurangi Peninsula. It sits between the Mahurangi Harbour and Kawau Bay. Seagrass meadows thrive here. The seagrass protects the beach from wave action. It also provides food for native wildlife.
Today, the 2.5-kilometer beach is popular. People come here for kite surfing and paddle boarding. Others enjoy swimming, fishing, and dog walking. The pohutukawa-lined esplanade features footpaths and playgrounds. It also has picnic areas and a public barbecue.
Snells Beach has evolved. It changed from a farm to a holiday destination to a residential community. Yet, it retains its charm. It remains a place where history meets natural beauty.