Dacre Cottage

Book in Production

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

Feb 2025

Kia ora
The Dacre Reserve Management Committee is about to publish a book 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.

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. 

Cheers
Peter Townend 

Chairperson, Dacre Cottage Management Committee.