History of 687 Portobello Road

“Chy-an-Dowr”

O riginally built as a single storey general store  in approx. 1905.
The store was named the “Manapai Cash Store” and owned by
Archibald Weir, selling groceries and provisions.

Archibald Weir also ran the harbour ferry the “Matariki” until 1909,
when it burnt at the water’s edge at Portobello.

Broad Bay was a popular holiday resort early 1900,
with ferries carrying up to
 800 people from Dunedin
to the Otago Peninsula.

William Duff became the second owner of the  “Manapai Cash Store”
 from approx. 1910.

As seen on the photo a house was built beside the store,
but at some stage this house burnt down.

In approx. 1925 the existing house was built
above and around the existing store.

With the coming of the motor cars Broad Bay remained
a popular holiday destination.
Boating regattas and picnics were a popular pastime.

In the 1950’s there were petrol pumps at the front
and a bakery at the back of the building.
For a while tearooms operated from the front side room.

It remained a general  store until the 1970’s when it
ceased trading and was converted to a private home.

.

In 1993 "C hy~an~Dowr" opened up as a Bed & Breakfast,
welcoming many guests from all over the world.