THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF EASTBOURNE INC.
HSE is a registered incorporated society, set up in 1982 to foster interest in local history. Our motto is ‘Preserving our Past, and Telling our Stories’.
As a Society we have won several community and regional awards for our work. Here are some of the major projects we’ve undertaken in recent years:

  • Creating the Eastbourne Heritage Trail, from Bishop Park to the Wahine Memorial at Korohiwa.
  • Creating new signage for Greenwood Park in south Muritai.
  • Campaigning (unsuccessfully, alas) to save the former caretaker’s cottage in Williams Park, which was built in the 1890s.
  • The successful ‘rescue’ and planned restoration of the Old Police Cell, as a future addition to the Heritage Trail.

Other projects are ongoing. Our aim of ‘preserving our past’ involves expanding and maintaining our archive Collection of historical items. These include thousands of old photographs, documents, publications, maps, ephemera and artworks, most of them donated by local residents. A key part of the Collection is our Oral History Archive, which started in the early 1980s.
Our online catalogue can be accessed via the Hutt City Library website:
https://library.huttcity.govt.nz/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/HOME
The Collection is a valuable resource for our community, and for researchers both in New Zealand and further afield. Over the years we have helped countless numbers of people with their family history and other research projects, by drawing on our Collection and our local knowledge.

With New Zealand History now part of the Curriculum, we’re also working closely with Muritai School to support the teaching and learning of local history.
‘Telling our stories’ is the other key part of our work. Over the years we’ve published two very successful books on Eastbourne history; written regular articles for the Eastbourne Herald; hosted a History Weekend to celebrate the centenary of Eastbourne becoming an independent Borough; organised many historical displays in the Eastbourne Library; and set up a Facebook page which is updated regularly with news, photos and stories. We also produce a quarterly newsletter with project updates, articles, photographs, and items from our archives.
We do not charge for any of this work. We are a non-profit organisation run by volunteers, and we love what we do.
How to find us
Our office is upstairs in the Eastbourne Community Library building, with our archive Collection stored in the Bagnall Room next door. We’re open to the public on Monday afternoons, from 2 to 4, and at other times by appointment.
Becoming a member
We currently have about 150 members, who support our aims and take a keen interest in our work. As well as sending out the newsletter, we organise regular events for our members, with a guest speaker followed by afternoon tea. These events are held in the East Harbour Women’s Club. So please join us, as we explore the fascinating history of ‘our place’! Membership forms are available in the Eastbourne Community Library, at our rooms upstairs in the Library building, and at our meetings and events.

  • Dennis Davidson, President (ph. 562-7337);
  • Julia Stuart, Secretary (ph. 562-6067);
  • Margaret Calder, Treasurer (ph. 562-8285)
  • Email: eastbournehistorynz@gmail.com
  • Postal address: Historical Society of Eastbourne Inc, C/- Eastbourne Community Library, 38 Rimu Street Eastbourne 5013