Baycourt Community and Arts Centre

Baycourt Community and Arts Centre is a multi-purpose performing arts and theatre facility in Tauranga, New Zealand.[1] It was designed by Warren and Mahoney,[2] and has a main auditorium, the Addison Theatre, that seats 589.[3][4] The Addison Theatre is named after Bob Addison, chairman of a group of local residents who formed the Tauranga Community Arts Council and developed the original proposal for a community and arts centre in 1974. It took nine years of fundraising and planning before the centre was built and officially opened in 1983.[5]

Baycourt Community and Arts Centre
General information
TypePerforming arts and theatre venue
Location38 Durham Street, Tauranga, New Zealand
Coordinates37.68298°S 176.16746°E / -37.68298; 176.16746
Construction startedOctober 1981
Opened26 April 1983
Design and construction
Architect(s)Warren and Mahoney
Website
www.baycourt.co.nz

Warren and Mahoney won an award for their design, from the Waikato Bay of Plenty branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.[6]

One of the unusual features of Baycourt is its Wurlizter organ. The instrument is a 1926 Mighty Wurli (2/10 Wurlitzer Model H Opus 1482). It was originally installed in a theatre in Wellington, then moved to a shed in Tokoroa, and then into the former Tauranga Town Hall before being installed in Baycourt.[7]

References
  1. "SunLive - Collecting many memories of Baycourt - The Bay's News First". sunlive.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  2. Barrie, Andrew; Gatley, Julia (8 July 2021). "Itinerary: Tauranga city guide". architecturenow.co.nz. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  3. "Baycourt celebrated". Bay of Plenty Times. 30 July 2015. ProQuest 1699525184.
  4. "Baycourt facing up to tough future: Flagship city theatre likely to face stiff competition from new venues". Bay of Plenty Times. 5 March 2007. ProQuest 431691459.
  5. "SunLive - 40 year of Baycourt to be celebrated in April - The Bay's News First". www.sunlive.co.nz. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  6. "Central Tauranga Heritage Study". Tauranga City Council and Environment Bay of Plenty. April 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2023 – via Docplayer.net.
  7. Keber, Ruther (14 May 2015). "Wurlitzer organ's keeper will pull out all the stops". New Zealand Herald. Bay of Plenty Times.

Further reading
  • Guy, Maureen (2015). The Story of Baycourt. Friends of Baycourt. ISBN 978-0-473-32379-0.
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