Colourful Dargaville shipwreck explorer Noel Hilliam farewelled

Noel Hilliam's brother Bill and nephew Peter at his memorial service in Dargaville. Photo/Michael Cunningham

A man with a sense of adventure, a "can-do" attitude and a passion for the history of the district he loved was farewelled publicly in the building he designed and helped build.

Dargaville identity Noel Edward Hilliam died on Sunday, aged 80.

His family held a private funeral service for him on Wednesday, while about 200 people crammed into the Lighthouse Function Centre yesterday for a memorial to a man described as a loving husband, father, carpenter, dairy farmer, diver, pilot, historian and shipwreck explorer.

In keeping with the wishes of his widow Julie and their five children, people were asked not to speak about some of Mr Hilliam's controversial views about New Zealand's pre-history. Instead, the memorial service celebrated the life of an adventurous, visionary man.

Several times during eulogies by his youngest brother Bill, nephew Peter and old schoolmates, diving buddies and beach explorers, the audience crackled with laughter at tales of derring-do, and Noel Hilliam's stubborn determination.

The latter trait got the Lighthouse Centre and Dargaville Museum built on Pou Tu o Te Rangi Pa site in Harding Park, on the edge of town.

"What a journey," Bill Hilliam said emotionally as he tried to outline his brother's full life and many achievements.

Mr Hilliam and his three brothers grew up hearing their father and grandfather talk about the area's gumdigging history, shipping in what was once the busiest harbour and port in New Zealand, and many shipwrecks on the ruthless wild coast.

Noel married Julie, a nursing sister at Dargaville Hospital, and they lived the rest of their lives together at "The Homestead", on their dairy farm at Mahuta. He built his own small aeroplane and often after milking would hop in and fly along the coast looking for wrecks.

"Noel was always exploring shipwrecks and finding historical artefacts, and those findings are a large part of his legacy," his brother said.

When the former, tiny museum in rotting stables behind the original Dargaville homestead had to close, Noel became the flagbearer in the drive to replace it. The museum became a hobby he gave much of his life to.

He recorded 23,000 hours of volunteer work - getting the site re-designated, helping build the museum and serving for 12 years as its president.

He drew up, and had approved by the engineer who designed the Beehive in Wellington, the soaring 'lighthouse' shaped ceiling made of 17,000 metres of tongue and grooved, native timber.

At his farewell, many tributes and tales were told, and those from admirers in many countries read out, about a respected man who did a great deal to bring his district's early European history to life, and to preserve it.

Noel Hilliam was inspiring, organised, always willing to share his knowledge and, as one man said, "one of the most interesting people you could meet".