The progression of construction along Cameron Road, Tauranga, is providing some points of interest along the way, as stories of Tauranga come into focus through various buildings and trees that have stood for decades.

The history of Tauranga Boys' College on Cameron Road is woven into important history moments of the city itself.

Secondary education in Tauranga began in the early 1900s on the site of what is Tauranga Primary School today.

By the mid-1930s, the buildings were overflowing with students, and the push for a separate secondary school began.

Tauranga College 1946-1958. Photo: Tauranga Boys' College.

In 1937, the Education Board purchased the ‘Hillsdene' motor camp, originally one of the 10-acre (40,000 m2) blocks laid out following the New Zealand Wars. However, World War II delayed building on the site until 1944.

After two years of planning and construction, the Official Opening Ceremony was held on September 17 1945, with the Tauranga College Foundation Year starting on February 5 1946.

Twelve years later, and overflowing with pupils once again, female students moved to a newly built campus in Gate Pā, which was named Tauranga Girls' College.

Male students remained on the ‘Hillsdene' site which became known as Tauranga Boys' College.

Tauranga Boys' College seeks to honour our past while creating our future. This includes honours boards recognising top scholars and New Zealand representative sportsmen, the naming of buildings after former principals and memorials to past students.

The plaque featuring the names of students who fell in World War II. Photo:: Tauranga Boys' College.

One such memorial is Tauranga's World War II Memorial Grove, a distinctive row of tōtara trees that line Fifteenth Avenue. These were planted in 1949 as a memorial to the 41 former Tauranga District High School students who fell during World War II (September 1 1939 - September 2 1945).

Stunning heritage trees on the ‘Hillsdene' site tell their own story.

These include Californian Redwoods (1880s), Hoop Pines (1890s), Himalayan Cypress (1920s), London Plane trees (1920s), Tōtara (1920s), English oak (1940s) and a Weeping Lilly Pilly (1940s).

Tauranga's World War II Memorial Grove was planted in 1949 as a memorial to the 41 former Tauranga District High School students who fell during World War II. Photo: Tauranga Boys' College.