Dacre Cottage

A fundraising appeal

to publish the history of Dacre Cottage, the second oldest building in Auckland, the people, and the place.

June 2024

Kia ora
The Dacre Reserve Management Committee is raising funds to publish the book (production and printing costs), telling the story of the Cottage, the Dacre family, and the natural history of this stunning coastal strip between the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and the Long Bay Regional Park.

Dating from 1855, the Cottage is the second oldest existing building in Auckland. It was built by Captain Ranulph Dacre for his young son Henry to farm the Weiti block of land, once the kauri trees growing there had been harvested.

Felicity Goodyear-Smith has recently written a fully-illustrated book,
Dacre Cottage & the Weiti Block: Preserving our Heritage.

The book tells the story of Captain Dacre, his adventures and enterprises, and the lives and deeds of his descendants. These tales are an important part of the history of this region, of Auckland, and of Aotearoa New Zealand. It includes stories of Dacre’s notable contemporaries, including Chief Eruera Patuone, Sir John Logan Campbell, Governor William Hobson, Sir George Grey, and many others.

The book also tells the story of the many community groups and individuals who have fought to preserve the Cottage and grounds and Dacre’s original Weiti block. Protecting the forest, the land, the estuary, the beach and the wildlife from human degradation and development. Their endeavours have led to the Long Bay Ōkura Marine Reserve, the limiting of coastal housing in the area, pest control, thousands of native trees planted and new walking access. Today dotterels and oystercatchers still breed at Karepiro Bay, and godwits arrive every spring back from their northern migration. Stingrays live in the estuary, and orcas often visit to feed on them.

Dacre Cottage and its surrounds are maintained by a team of local enthusiastic volunteers under the direction of the Dacre Reserve Management Committee for the Auckland City Council.

The team, mainly self-funded, has been active in various forms since the Cottage was restored in 1984.

The funds raised will go towards the following expenses (estimated costs)

Images $500.00

Alexander Turnbull Library; Ministry for Culture & Heritage Purchase of digital image copies for publication 

Production $12,362.50

Punaromia Publications Ltd Based on 31,000 words & 150 illustrations: copy-editing; proof corrections; design & layout of text & cover; print proof check; independent proof-read; independent index 

Printing $3,708.75

Benefitz Print Full colour cover; coloured illustrations; 252mm x 190mm; 176 pages; 200 copies delivered to Auckland address 

Total $16,571.25

Proceeds from the sale of books
All proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Dacre Reserve Management Committee to contribute to their ongoing maintenance and improvement programme for the Cottage and the Historic and Esplanade Reserves. 

Please help us with your support.

Cheers
Peter Townend 

Chairperson, Dacre Cottage Management Committee.

Tel 0274 529 255

Email dacrecottage@gmail.com 

Dacre Cottage bank account number is 03-0180-0167915-00 (put Book in reference box)

Dacre Cottage Management Committee is not a registered charity . 

All who donate more than $100 will receive a free copy of the book and will have their name listed in the book as a donor.

Secretary (for receipts) Dacre Cottage Management Committee. mail.shane.d@gmail.com