Thames NZ: Genealogy & History Resources: Thames (NZ): Bowen Street at the Parawai end of Thames

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Thames (NZ): Bowen Street at the Parawai end of Thames

Bowen Street ran from the Hape Creek in the north, to the Kauaeranga River in the south. Known now as Rolleston Street, this street was named after Sir George Bowen an early Governor of the colony. Banks Street ended at the intersection with Bowen Street, there was no need for it to run further west until the new Kauaeranga Road Bridge opened in 1924.

Part of: Cleave's Streets Maps - of the Thames and Suburbs c1910.

Map 3577 Auckland Libraries

Photograph of Bowen Street area early 1900s.
Imagine you are standing at the west end of Mount Pleasant, and look down over Heale, Fenton and Bowen Streets - look at the photograph below, this is the view c1900s.

View over Parawai end of Thames c1900s.

A closer look at the left (southern) side of the photograph and the Kauaeranga Rail Bridge is open, which postdates the photo past 1898. The land beyond where Rhodes park is today is low lying and possibly covered by water in parts. Next to the river is Causley's Garden Nursery.

The houses under the word 'Bridge' are at the southern end of Bowen Street. Note the closeness of the river - today there is the stop-bank structure. The land to the right of the houses is where the motels and garage are today, and further right the reclaimed land where Toyota car plant is sited.

Moving further right (north) across the main photo, the shop is visible that for decades was at the corner of Heale and Fenton Streets. Next time you drive along Fenton and Rolleston Streets, look out for the houses that are in the photograph - with the exception of the large one in the centre (more on that soon).

Mrs Grubb had the Fenton Street shop for many years. Out of view far right was the site of the Maori Meeting (Hotunui) house that now holds pride of place at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Now to the large house at the centre of the 1900s photo. The house was located at the corner of Fenton and Bowen (Rolleston ) Streets, on the south-east intersect.

There are numerous outbuildings one of which housed the wash-house, plus there was separate servants' quarters. Built in classic villa style with the large verandah, full length windows plus several bay-windows.

While researching the house , it was suggested that it may have belonged to the Miller family. It was occupied in the mid 1940s onwards by Mr Rutherfurd who was Mine Manager at the Sylvia Mine at Tararu. During the home's history it was a boardinghouse and later divided into flats. The ceiling height described by a past resident as 'exceptionally high'!

In the 1923 Street Directory, the property is the residence of Mr Ernest Napier Miller, Solicitor. This confirms the recollections of later owners. Mr Miller was a partner in the law firm Miller & Poulgrain. Ernest joined his father's firm in 1900, it was then known as Miller & Son. Ernest's brother Selwyn lied in the same block on the corner of Banks and Heale Street.

Mr E N Miller was Mayor of Thames 1919 to 1923, both he and his wife were active members of the community. During the 1918 influenza epidemic, Mrs Miller was in-charge of the convalescent hospital in Queen Street. Mr Miller also helped staff Thames Hospital during the epidemic.