One of the early families in Whangaparaoa were the Glanville family. In 1857 Henry and Mary Glanville and their family arrived from New South Wales and settled in what is today known as Stanmore Bay.

The bay became known as Glanville’s Bay. The family worked hard but struggled with clearing bracken fern and planted corn and wheat and fished for pilchards and they cultivated a fine vegetable patch and enjoyed dining on wild pigeons and ducks.

Unfortunately, Henry, who had emigrated because of a bad heart, died not long after their arrival and Mary returned to NSW. Henry was buried and his grave has never been found although his gravestone was discovered in the 1970’s in the bay.

There is now a small cemetery in Stanmore Bay at the eastern end, however it is believed Henry was probably buried closer to the homestead further down the bay.

In 1878 the younger Henry Glanville returned to NZ and sold the property to the Hill family who gave it the name Stanmore Bay after their home in Great Stanmore, England. The family never lived there but employed a farm manager to run the farm which ran along the 2 km beach. Stanmore Cottage still stands at the top of Brightside Road and is currently a childcare centre.

The bay looks north to the Mahurangi Peninsula and gulf islands of Motuora, Moturekareka, Motuketekete and Kawau. Today it is a popular swimming and boating bay and home to the Hibiscus Coast soccer club and grounds, Hibiscus Raiders rugby league club, Stanmore Bay Boat Club and Stanmore Bay Pool and Leisure Centre.