Monkey Island - a history, by Anne McCracken

Shared by Central & Western Murihiku Southland Archive

Monkey Island - a history, by Anne McCracken: This particular background history was written by Anne McCracken, who had researched the information available on this area in the late 1980's. To download a .pdf of the typed document, click on link to this under photo. History recorded as below (quoted): "MONKEY ISLAND, Anne McCracken On a curve of Te Wae Wae Bay, nestles an outcrop of rocks called MONKEY ISLAND. At low tide one can walk out to this; over smooth light golden sand to climb this Island, or peer into the many rock pools that have formed at the base of Monkey Island, these pools are home for the wide variety of marine life left by the receding tide, but at high tide the sea rushes and swirls in around these pools, covers the expanse of sand, and all the remnants of the past, there was once a busy anchorage. Almost all evidence has gone of this, the original site of the first Orepuki Town – a town that was surveyed but not registered at Dunedin in time; this first site was of consequence fairly primitive – a gold town, fickle as this ‘wonder’ metal that had been discovered on the Beach (now known as Orepuki Beach) but during the surveyor’s long and hazardous journey back to Dunedin and un-beknown to him, gold had been discovered four miles north of this site, and with the resulting ‘fever’ the town site moved also. However, all supplies had to be brought by sea from Riverton (Aparima) – a sometimes hazardous journey in the stormy waters of this area. It was not uncommon for supplies to be almost gone, and until an overland route was firmly established inhabitants were at the mercy of the elements. How Monkey Island was named appears to be uncertain – lost into the memories of the early folk; but according to a senior 85yr old resident living in Orepuki in 1987, the popular version of the origins of the name is that a monkey escaped from an early shipwreck and was found on this large outcrop of rocks. A wharf had been built, a slipway established on the leeward side of the Island; a Police outpost was erected in a tent, this being officially recorded as early as July 1866. Mr Henry Hirst opened the first Post Office on 23 May 1866, this official post probably being in his own residence. The mail was carried by Cobb & Co., coaches as early as 1865, the service being subject to wind and weather, over an atrocious track once a week. (It is recorded in the publication “Orepuki.. A Hundred Years of Memories”, that a body of diggers some seventy in number worked the Beach which extended some nine miles to the mouth of the Waiau.) How many folk were actually living at the Monkey Island site is not recorded, but by the very nature of the circumstances conditions would have been most difficult for the womenfolk…. But as the miners’ worked the beach for the elusive gold, a store had been established, a medical service to the folk there was given frequently by a Doctor who rode by horse-back from Riverton. As early as 1875 a multiple drowning disaster robbed the community of ten men; their families mourned their loss but were supported by the close-knit community. How those early pioneers to this rugged coastal gold-field would now be surprised at the summertime influx of visitors both local and overseas to this popular resort. Youth Hostel Association’s guide for tourists has Monkey Island listed as a safe area to camp and many overseas guests are interested in its origins. The beach has a wide long fine expanse of sand, perfect for the recreation of the young and not so young; a good safe beach to take young families to play in the sand and sea, or to play team games and barbeque in the sun. Fertile farm land surrounds this popular beach, which has toilet facilities, fresh uncontaminated water and electricity for the convenience of all. There is no shopping facility here, which helps to keep the litter problem down. With the gold rush moving around and then finally running out the earlier population of 3,000 with its accompanying Railway station, buildings etc., Orepuki now settles back to be a very small community of residents with only one local business remaining, one hotel with its original building reduced to half its size, a school, a Post Office that is only open for five days a week on limited hours, the Railway line with all the compliment of buildings have now gone, but an active volunteer Fire Service, and a new Community Hall which is used by young and old. 30th April, 1987. Anne McCracken” (signature redacted from document for security reasons.) END. ARCHIVISTS NOTE: Māori call this place 'Te Puka o Takitimu' (or the anchor stone of the legendary Takitimu waka/canoe that was wrecked in the bay). Please share your memories of this important place in our community and send in any stories that you know of, and most of all, do let us know if you have any more photos you can share with us all please. You can do this by adding a comment about at the bottom of the image page, or making contact.