Downtown.....

'The Strand' is the main shopping area of Whakatane, a home to many art deco style shops neslted beneath the Puketapu Lookout and Papaka Redoubt.

The Puketapu Lookout was once an ancient Maori foritification and now provides views of the town, river, sea and off-shore islands and the Rangitaiki Plains.

The Papaka Redoubt was built in 1869 on a pa site above the tiny trading town at the mouth of the Whakatane River by military settlers to protect the town after it had been raided by Te Kooti Arikirani in 1869. The able-bodied men were given land in frontier districts in return for fighting when required.

Cinema Five complex was built in the late 1930s representing the growing population and its needs for a substantial theatre and cinema. The site has been the location of theatre and performance venue since the early part of the 20th century showing silent movies and visiting stage shows. The site has also been the location of the Masonic Lodge rooms. Architecturally it is one of a few substantial two-storied commercial buildings in Whakatane. The exterior is as orginally designed and still retains some original shopfront. It is a good example of a provincial picture theatre typical of those built in the 1930s, representing a confidence in economic conditions and the prosperity of the times.

The little souvenir shop was built in 1916 as a single storey retail building that included W. Lawrence, a saddler and tailor. There was a blacksmith shop at the rear opening onto what is now Canning Place. In 1929 it became the NZ Loan and Mercantile building and six years later the first floor storey was added. By 1981 it was the local branch of Dalgety's, a firm associated with agricultural industry which had by this stage merged with NZ Loan and Mercantile Company Limited. In 1995 the building had become home to The Furniture Store and today is where I will be stocktaking, my cousins souvenir shop.

'The Strand' was the place to 'hang out' on a Friday night when the shops were open late, during the late 70's. Teenagers congregated and young lads with their hot cars or not so hot cars roared up and down the street. Times have changed and its possibly a quiter street now.

Just a quick shot before we started stocktake, it will be dark by the time we finish, have tea and head home to the country.