Typology of the Baches of Taylors Mistake
by Janet Abbott, art historian and bach historian, Christchurch, NZ
The 72 baches of Taylors Mistake, Boulder Bay, Hobsons Bay and the cliffs and caves in between demonstrated a range of construction strategies. In the early 1900s when most of these baches were built there was no road access and the materials had to be found on site, boated in or carried, dragged and sledded over the hills. Nothing was wasted. Doors and windows were recycled from buildings in town. Baches that proved to be built too close to the sea and were washed away in a king tide storm were repurposed but the greatest treasure of all was dunnage. Over the hill from Taylors Mistake lay Lyttelton Harbour and until containers were used and biosecurity became an issue, ships would clear their decks of unwanted packing timber on leaving port. After a few days in the sea these exotic hardwoods washed up along the coast providing a ready supply of seasoned timber for building. Many of the earlier baches were made from this wood with the residue used for tree huts, dinghies and sledges.