THE STONE STORE
Website: Kerikeri Mission Station 

Two of New Zealand's oldest buildings
are situated in the Kerikeri Basin.
The Stone Store is the country's oldest surviving stone building.

(The white building to the right is Kemp House, next to the Kerikeri River)

The Stone Store was built in 1832-36 as a storehouse for the mission. After the mission's closure in 1848 it was taken over by the Kemp family and leased by a succession of storekeepers. In 1976 the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, which continued to operate it as a shop, bought it from the A.E. Kemp Estate. The building has had major conservation and renovation work and reopened for the public during 1998.

"1846 Richard Kemp is recorded as taking gum to Auckland to try to find a market and James Kemp was sending a considerable amount of gum from the Stone Store in the 1850’s. As the 1880's progressed into depression years, people from all walks of life and from a variety of nations came to the gumfields to seek a livelihood. Arriving in Kerikeri by boat, the would-be digger was fitted out at the Store. All over the north could be seen the camps of gumdiggers."
From Kerikeri Heritage of Dreams by Nancy Pickmere - Northland Historical Publications Society

The Stone Store traded in kauri gum from the 1850's but the peak years for the gum trade were the 1890's and early 1900's.

John Black purchased the Stone Store business in 1888 and with energy and enterprise, proceeded to expand the business. As a public spirited man he was also interested in promoting the welfare and progress of the area.

Soon after his arrival he had his own steamboat, Firefly, built locally, which plied to Russell with loads of kauri gum to be loaded on the Northern Steam Ship Company's ships for the big gum stores at Auckland and returned with goods for the store.

 Black reorganised facilities for the loading of the gum which was sorted on the first floor of the store and lowered by a winch into a small wheeled truck which ran along rails that had been inserted into heavy timber girders which were laid across the roadway to the wharf. There was a span that could be lifted to allow carts and wagons to pass when loading was not in progress.

48	Calico or Cambric Chemises	8	Pillow Cases
36	Calico Night Dresses	3	Blankets
36	Night Caps	2	Counterpanes
24	Cambric Slips	20	or 30 yards of fine Flannel
24	Middle Petticoats	6	Toothbrushes
3	Flannel Petticoats	3	Nail Brushes
1	Horse-hair Petticoat	4	Hair Brushes
24	Fine Flannel Waistcoats		Combs
24	Pair of Cambric Trousers	6	Boxes of Tooth Powder
48	Pocket Handkerchiefs	4	lbs. of brown Windsor Soap
48	Huckaback Hand Towels	4	Lbs of Violet Powder
12	Bathing Towels	1	Good sponge
`24	Pairs of fine Cotton Stockings		Pomades or Oil for the Hair
24	Pairs of Thread Stockings		Eau de Cologne
12	Pairs of white Silk Hose		Dressing Case
2	Pairs of black Silk Hose	3	Pairs of Stays
1	Flannel Dressing Gown, warm	1	Cloak
2	Coloured Dressing Gowns	8	Pairs of Shoes
8	White muslin do.	2	Bonnets
4	Coloured Morning Dresses		Shawl
8	Muslin Dresses		Fancy Handkerchiefs
4	Dinner Dresses		Fancy Aprons
2	Silk dresses		Capes, collars, etc
1	Satin Dress		Ribbons, gauzes, etc
2	Muslin-de-laine dresses		Haberdashery, needles, etc.
1	Work-box		Writing case, paper, etc.
12	Pairs of white Kid Gloves		Books
9	Pairs of coloured Kid Gloves	1	Ship couch, with drawers
	Long white Kid Gloves	1	Wash-hand Stand
24	Pairs of Thread or Silk Gloves	1	Light Cane Chair
12	Pairs of Thread or Lace Gloves	1	Looking-glass
12	Pairs of Lace Mittens	1	Cabin Lamp

 
(Kerikeri Basin looking from Kororipo Pa)

KEMP HOUSE