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e h c o R a L Alan resident, Alan La Roche Howick Historian, and lifelong Howick for Howick’s 175th is a member of the planning committee ick Historical Village, author Commemorations, the founder of How . Eastlife asked him about the and a fount of local historical knowledge on the past, the present and upcoming commemorations and his view the future of the district.
Were you born in Howick, or did you come here as a child or older? I was born in the family home in Paparoa Road before World War II, delivered by Dr Lange, former PM David Lange’s father from Otahuhu. What was it like growing up in the Howick of 70 years ago; do you have a favourite memory? Growing up in Howick was wonderful. We had a five-acre block with good native bush, large vegetable garden and orchard where a few sheep grazed. Like many locals we had a much-loved house-cow called “Cleopatra”. I had a pet calf each year; my favourite was Penny-Royal. My brother and I walked more than two miles to school each day. I worked as a builder’s labourer in school holidays which included digging the foundations for Pakuranga College. Was there ever a time when you didn’t live locally and if so where and why? I have lived in Howick for most of
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my life, only leaving while studying dentistry at Otago University and also two years in London for post-graduate work. I had a dental practice in Pakuranga for almost 30 years. When did you become fascinated with local history or, for that matter history, in general; did it start as a hobby? My mother collected books on New Zealand history and sparked my imagination. Also, I often visited inspirational Miss Nixon in Uxbridge Road’s Garden of Memories, which fuelled my interest. When I returned from London a friend asked me to save Howick’s Shamrock Cottage. A benefactor paid the £4000 pounds to buy it. I advertised for help and regular Saturday working bees started with Historical Society members and Howick RSA volunteers pitching in. The society moved the Anglican Parsonage to Howick Historical Village in 1977. Were you involved in Howick’s 150th jubilee and what will this year’s events entail?
As Director of Howick Historical Village, I was on the committee organising the 150th Anniversary of the landing of Fencible family immigrants in 1847. I remember carrying Fencible ladies ashore at Cockle Bay. This year’s events will not have a full re-enactment but a parade from the beach to Picton Street is proposed. More information will be on our website as it evolves, www.howick175.co.nz You have been involved with the Howick Historical Village from the early days how did that come about? Elsie Bell had bequeathed Bell House to the Historical Society in 1974, and then when the historical Anglican parsonage, where Vicesimus Lush wrote his magnificent journal of life in early Howick, was going to be demolished, I made an appointment to see Lloyd Elsmore, then Mayor of Manukau City. He offered me five acres for a historical village next to Bell House. At the time, I was taking tours of Howick and Pakuranga, so because I knew owners of local historical homes, I
wrote 20 letters to some about the proposed village and most gave permission for us to move their cottages there. How long did it take to find and actually have the first houses in place and what fundraising was involved towards set up? It was Manukau City Councillors who bought what is now Lloyd Elsmore Park for future reserves. The Historical Society was the first group to ask for part of the reserve. When Lloyd Elsmore gave us the use of five acres, he wisely stated “on condition I did not ask Council for funding”. The Historical Village site is leased from Auckland City. However, we had years of fundraising and cake stalls every Friday in Picton Street leading up to the first buildings being moved there in 1977. At the time, we had more than 900 Society members. How different is the village today from when it opened? Howick Historical Village was almost tree-less in 1977 but we saved flower plants and trees from www.eastlife.co.nz
