Our band of enthusiastic volunteers guarantees you enjoyment, friendship and fellowship plus opportunities to actively preserve our local heritage when you join the Society based in the idyllic surroundings of the Historic Vaughan Homestead - Northern end of Long Bay Regional Park.

The Torbay Historical Society, founded in 1982, has over 60 members.  The Society organises several events per year for members - last year Torbay author Marie Gray spoke about her book Irish at Heart and several Memories Days were held when long time local residents renewed friendships and reminisced about early Torbay.  In February this year we had a lot of fun running historical games at the Sport North Harbour Have a Go Day.

Members are also active in maintaining a small museum and continuing restoration of the Vaughan Homestead and grounds. Current projects: building a stone wall ; restoring the old gum store; reconstructing the windmill that used to operate on the farm, recording and storing artefacts and memorabilia.

In its early years the Society ran a small museum in the original small church of St Mary’s by the Sea which had been relocated to the Awaruku Reserve.  Tragically this building and its contents were destroyed by arson in 1988.

In 1991 the Auckland Regional Council invited community groups to submit plans for the restoration of the historic Vaughan Homestead at Long Bay. In 1993 the Society gained the licence to occupy, restore and manage the Homestead. Since then the Vaughan Homestead through hours of voluntary labour and fundraising has been restored to its 1890 appearance. It is available for hire for community use, small functions, weddings seminars etc.

Talks are also given to groups about local history Small functions can be catered.