Tinui history timeline

Opening 2nd Tinui Post and Telegraph Office, 1924
Wairarapa Archive - 05-39/P-F-4-1

First Tinui Hotel, built in Blackhill Road in 1872.
Wairarapa Archive - 05-39/P-B-3-1

Pet Day, Tinui School, c1950.
Wairarapa Archive - 05-39/P-D-1-4

Tinui history timeline

1848 First settler Thomas Guthrie arrives at Castlepoint. Established Castlepoint Station and the first Castlepoint Store.

1848 Wool shipped from Castlepoint to waiting ships and supplies loaded for sheep stations.

1867 Telegraph line installed from Wellington to Auckland, via Masterton, Tinui, Castlepoint, Porangahau to Napier.

1869 Post and Telegraph Office opened in Tinui. Replaced in 1923 with the current Post and Telegraph Office, which closed in 1989,

1872 First Tinui Hotel built in Blackhill Road. This burnt down in 1879 and a second hotel was built on the same site.

Tinui Hall opened in Manawa Road.

1876 Tinui’s first settler, Arthur Nicholls, builds a general store.

Tinui School was established in Manawa Road.

1880 Joseph Nathan subdivided land to form Tinui Village.

1900 Tinui was a very busy East Coast hub. Businesses included a wheelwright, brick kiln, livery stables and numerous shops, including a bakery and fruiterer.

1902 Church of the Good Shepherd opened in Tinui Village

1916 Memorial cross erected on the Tinui Taipo mountain above Tinui Village, on Anzac Day 1916.

1920s Once metalled road established from Masterton, shipping wool and supplies from Castlepoint ceased.

1931 Second Tinui Hotel in Blackhill Road burnt down. Third hotel built on present site.

1954 Tinui War Memorial Hall opened in Blackhill Road

1955 Electricity arrives in Tinui.

1955 Tinui School opens on new site in Charles Street

1972 New general store built alongside the old store.

1981 St Joseph’s Catholic Church moved to Riversdale Beach

1982 Tinui Craft Store and museum established in the Old General Store.

1990 Massive flood hits the Tinui district. Much property damage and severe livestock losses.

2008 Tinui Hotel was sold to Wellington interests and relocated to Greytown, despite strong resistance from the Tinui Community.

2019 Church of the Good Shepherd moved from Manawa Road, Tinui, to Blackhill Road.

2023 Cyclone Gabrielle hit Tinui district, 221 mm of rain falling in 24 hours, massive property and farm damage.

2025 Church of the Good Shepherd reopened in Blackhill Road, following extensive renovation and refurbishment.

Thomas Guthrie, first settler and owner of Castlepoint Station.

Church of the Good Shepherd, Tinui just after it was opened in 1902.

The second Tinui Hotel, in Blackhill Road.

The interior of the first Tinui Hall. It is set up for a formal dinner, or perhaps a wedding breakfast.

A view along Manawa Road, from the north, around 1900.

On the right is the first Tinui Hall. On the left is St Joseph's Catholic Church and the former Council Offices.

The former roads board office in Manawa Road.