Baycourt history

It was a true community facility from the start. A public campaign in the late 1970s, led by the tenacious Bob Addison (after whom the Addison Theatre is now named), argued Tauranga desperately needed a new arts centre and cultural heart. Tauranga City Council eventually agreed to fund the building on condition the public contributed $250,000. The subsequent fundraising efforts blew that target out of the water, with $400,000 rolling in!

Renowned architects Warren & Mahoney designed the building and construction got underway in October 1981. An Ōtūmoetai College English teacher won a competition to name the new facility, choosing ‘Baycourt’ to reflect its regional connections and a place of entertainment and learning.

On 26 April 1983 people lined the streets to welcome the then-Prince and Princess of Wales to Baycourt’s grand opening. Princess Diana unveiled a commemorative plaque which still hangs in our main foyer today.

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra were the first to perform on Baycourt’s stage, with people queuing up at 7am to buy tickets and the show quickly selling out. Four decades on, the excitement of coming to Baycourt remains just as palpable for everyone who experiences a live performance here.

To mark Baycourt’s 40th anniversary in 2023, we collaborated with Tauranga’s Supercut Projects to create a digital experience that tells a more in depth story of Baycourt’s rich history.

Today, Baycourt is owned by Tauranga City Council and is part of Te Manawataki o Te Papa civic precinct. The land is jointly owned by Tauranga City Council and Otamataha Trust, which represents mana whenua from Ngāi Tamarāwaho and Ngāti Tapu hapū.