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Nestled in the heart of Clevedon is a small building rich in history.
The Clevedon District Centre sits opposite the village’s larger community centre, and remains an important part of the community.
Formerly the post office, it was built in 1908 (some say 1909) to replace an earlier structure that had served Clevedon since 1857.
According to the Clevedon and Districts Historical Society, the materials were said to have been brought up the river on the S.S. “Hirere”.
“Before the government building was provided, post offices were located over the years in shops and private dwellings. The district also had a private telephone association formed in 1913, finally superseded by the government exchange installed in the post office. Electric power coming to the district about 1927 also interfered with the association’s earth return system.”
The district was originally known as Wairoa or Wairoa South.
“According to post office records was changed to Clevedon (as in Clevedon, England) in 1886 to avoid confusion with other Wairoas.”
Nicki Henshaw, of Love Clevedon, said the district centre was also used as the Clevedon Police Station.
Today, the hall is used for artist workshops, a JP clinic, meetings for the Clevedon Association, Wairoa representatives, and support groups. It’s also the hub for the annual Christmas parade.
“The building is a fabulous resource, and I’m confident that its use will grow alongside our community,” Nicki said.
- Keen to learn more about the Clevedon District Centre’s history? Check out Jessie Munro’s two-volume book Voices of Belonging (2016) and the collected works of Fraser Murray Yester-years (2009).
