DESCRIPTION: The building was erected in 1858 by sawmiller Abraham Firth to service the families of timber workers and flax cutters in the area. At that time Te Aute was highly inaccessible and it took five days for supplies to arrive from Port Ahuriri. In 1860 a road was constructed through Te Aute, linking Napier and Waipukurau. A regular coach service was introduced shortly after and the store also became a coaching stop, allowing horses to be changed and passengers to take refreshment. By the early 1870s however, the construction of the Napier-Wellington railway had rendered this service obsolete. The building went through several changes of ownership until 1888 when it was bought by Mrs C R Gundrie. The store was to remain in the hands of the Gundrie family for three generations, passing on Mrs Gundrie's death in 1914 to her daughter Flora and then in 1951 to her grand-daughter Jessie Osborne. Over the years the store became a focal point for the local community, providing services such as a lending library. In later years the shop acted as a museum as much as a store with people coming in to admire its many mementoes and samples of goods long since out of production. The store finally closed in 1982 after 124 years of continuous use. In 1986 the building was put up for sale and is at present still on the market.
Location
List Entry Information
Overview
Detailed List Entry
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
4411
Date Entered
6th June 1990
Date of Effect
6th June 1990
City/District Council
Hastings District
Region
Hawke's Bay Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent of registration includes the land described as Te Koroki 2 Blk (RT HB86/127), Hawkes Bay Land District and the building known as Te Aute Store (Former) thereon. All other buildings on the land are excluded from the registration.
Legal description
Te Koroki 2 Blk (RT HB86/127), Hawkes Bay Land District
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