The Hall
The Legion of Frontiersmen J Squadron’s Tauranga Hall has a long and interesting history that dates back to 1948. The land was initially signed over to the Squadron as a perpetual lease by the Tauranga Borough Council for use as their clubrooms. The building itself is still owned by the Legion today and was originally purchased by the Legion for £415 in 1948. The building was originally located in Tauriko and was transported to its current site after the Legion arranged for fill to reclaim the swamp land which was tidal. Over the years, aside from its use by J Squadron, the hall has become an essential community resource which local groups and members of the community can hire for events, functions and community meetings.
Today, J Squadron’s Tauranga Legion of Frontiersmen Hall remains one of only two Frontiersmen Halls left in New Zealand, the second one being located in Whakatane. The hall has been a significant part of Tauranga’s history over the past 75 years and J Squadron is determined to preserve it for future generations of Frontiersmen and for continued community use.
J Squadron has undertaken a large scale renovation of the hall to modernise it and improve the space for all users. This renovation work included replacing the signage on the front of the building, repainting the entrance, foyer, hallway and refurbishing the Memorial Room. The main hall has undergone significant upgrades including frosting the bottom windows for privacy and adding blockout blinds for shade. The studs have been lined with UV-protected plywood and insulation and the iconic, but very dated pink and maroon colour scheme has been repainted with neutral colours which has warmed, lightened and freshened the space. The Ross Neilson lounge has been converted to a closed memorial space for all Frontiersmen and their history.
A new security system has been installed which provides better security for the hall and also ensures users are only charged for the exact amount of time they use the hall. The hall has excellent visitor car parking, and inside there are room dividers, cabinets, tables, chairs as well as kitchen and toilet facilities.
Tauranga Hall has come a long way since it’s establishment as the Squadron’s training and meeting facility in 1948. The hall is not only a community resource, but a very important part of New Zealand’s and Tauranga’s Legion of Frontiersmen history. The renovation work is testament to the Squadron’s commitment to ensuring the hall is available for use by future generations.
Please note that our visitor parking area is exclusively designated for guests attending events or activities in the main part of the Legion of Frontiersmen Hall. Unfortunately, parking facilities are not available for those visiting the TTRC range. Any unauthorised parking in the Legion of Frontiersmen Hall carpark is subject to fines. If you have any questions about parking kindly reach out to the Legion of Frontiersmen Hall management, via Val Baker (details below), as management are the only ones able to grant permission for parking.
If you would like to book the hall, please contact Val Baker directly on 027 285 9714 or by email at val.baker@xtra.co.nz
