The farm block is part of what was originally known as the Opito Block - New Brighton
(now known as Kaiaua), a 1500 acre block that was purchased in 1874
by the Smith brothers, previously from Salisbury, England.
The three Smith brothers arrived in Auckland in 1864 with their father, Mr Thomas Maton Smith on the Royal Stuart.
After trying their hands at butchery, gold mining, working at the Criterion Hotel (Grahamstown, Thames)
they purchased the Opito Block and eventually moved the 'Bay View Hotel' publicans' licence from Thames
to the farm at Kaiaua. The 'bush licence' for the new hotel was issued 14th June 1875.
The Bay View Hotel of New Brighton had 10 rooms, a small detached bar and a store.
It also set up a small school in 1888 and housed the Post Office.
The Johnstones have some old photos of the original house, which was built in 1876,
the original hotel buildings and coins and numerous bottles that have been found
over the last 16 years of their time at the Kaiaua farm.

In 1921 when Thomas Smith died, the land was subdivided into 12 farms
which saw the beginning of the Kaiaua township.

Since then the original house block has seen various owners and uses and in 2013 the current owners started planning for the renovation of the old homestead with remodelling and extensions starting in 2014 and the final stages
of renovating the farm shed now nearly at completion.
Part of the shed renovation has been the redecorating of the 'Granny Flat' with new paint, carpet and heat pump and the new name of the Kaiaua Bayview Farm Apartment.