Domain Road (Pungarehu)

When the small town of Pungarehu was established, two pieces of land, bordering the Blockhouse Hill, were initially considered suitable for a public reserve. An area south of the hill was finally chosen, and the Pungarehu Domain was established there in 1903. Domain Road, providing access, is named after it.

In 1904 a board was set up to manage the area of more than four hectares. Money was needed to develop it, and initially some parts of the land were either leased to local farmers or planted in crops.

The Domain was well used for many years. A small tin shed was built there and Pungarehu briefly had its own cricket and rugby clubs. The Cape Egmont Athletic Sports Club held events there. There were regular local sports and gala days, school and dairy company picnics. It was said of the Blockhouse Hill, overlooking the domain, that “nature has provided an excellent grandstand.”

Beside the Domain was a small dam, used by the Cape Egmont dairy factory. After the dairy company directors donated the site, it was declared a public reserve in 1947, and volunteers started building a swimming pool there.

The pool was officially opened in December 1950. There were several speakers, after which, on behalf of the RSA, William Vaughan unveiled a stone plaque reading “1950 memorial baths, erected in honour of those who served during the great wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45.”

After the pools were opened, Domain Road was sealed to cope with the increased traffic.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.

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