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newzealand.com
If you're in Tauranga on a Sunday or public holiday, you can walk through the historic Elms Mission House.
Completed in 1847, the Elms Mission House is one of New Zealand's finest Georgian houses and one of the oldest historic buildings in the country. It was built for the Reverend Alfred Nesbit Brown, who came to New Zealand with his first wife Charlotte in 1829 as a missionary for the Church Missionary Society of England.
The house is constructed from kauri logs that were rafted down from the Coromandel Peninsula to be pit sawn on site. The building is in original condition except for the roof, which was originally shingled but is now clad in corrugated iron. An interesting collection of items used in the early days of the mission is also on display.
Next to the house is New Zealand's oldest free-standing library. The library contains more than 1,000 books which belonged to Reverend Brown. Many are on religious topics; others contain practical information related to survival in an isolated settlement.
The grounds around the Elms Mission House are open daily free of charge. Volunteer guides open the house and library to visitors from 2pm to 4 pm Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sunday public holidays. there is a small entry fee.
Bookings for use of the chapel and grounds can be made by emailing info@theelms.org.nz
