Hunt for history of health camp

Jon Bowen’s home is special.

Located in Te Aroha, in the eastern Waikato, the now-family home was once the dining hall at a health camp in Campbells Bay.

Bowen has only lived there for about four months but he’s slowly uncovering its history.

He started researching and was eager to learn more by tracking down those who may have memories of the camp.

So far, Bowen had looked at the National Library Archives and found old newspaper articles from the Auckland Star, a daily newspaper which was published between 1870 and 1991.

Bowen believed the house was moved to its current location in 1998.

‘‘It’s not massively significant but it’s quite cool. I’ve got a house with some history.’’

According to Auckland Star papers on Papers Past, a health camp was opened at Campbells Bay in 1937.

A 1944 article about the camp called for gifts of cash, toys, fruit, crockery and more.

In 1945, an additional five acres was bought and 6000 meals were served to elderly people affected by a gas shortage.The site the health camp was formerly on, at 60 Park Rise, is now a rest home.

Bowen was eager to hear from anyone with memories of the camp via email on shedguy@outlook.com or at PO Box 362, Morrinsville, 3300.

SUPPLIED/PAPERS PAST John Bowen’s Te Aroha home was the dining hall of a former health camp in Campbells Bay.