The Whenuakura Hotel was established 1871 with George Robert Tasker as  proprietor.

11 aug 1874: Notwithstanding the bad weather, the works at the Whenuakura  and Patea bridges have been vigorously pi-oceeded with, and it is expected the Whenuakura bridge will be completed during the course of the present week. Some men were set to work on the approaches yesterday, and as soon as they are made, which will be about Wednesday week, the bridge will be thrown open for traffic.

11 aug 1874: Another Coach Accident. Yesterday morning about a quarter past 8 o'clock as the Rangitikei coach was coming into town and when near Mr Gower's property on the Bonnie Glen road, a few miles the other side of Turakina, the leading horse shied suddenly at a man who was cutting furze in a bend on the side of the road, and before the driver had time to rein the frightened animal up he had drawn the polers and coach on the side of the road, and there being an incline of several feet the coach was capsized. One of the passengers, Mr Davidson of Turakina, saw what was about to happen and endeavoring to jump out was struck by one of the side buffers of the coach and rendered insensible for a short time. Beyond a few scratches and bruises, the passengers, of whom there was a full complement, escaped uninjured. It was found necessary to leave the top of the coach, which was broken, behind. No blame what ever is attached to the driver, Mr Prosser.

4 Oct 1876: Whenuakura Hotel: Mr W. R. Prosser, formerly of the Club Hotel, Marton, assumed possession and the management of this hostelry on Monday last, and we doubt not but that the travelling public will receive every attention at his hands, and that he will maintain his reputation as an obliging host.

13 Oct 1882:  Mr. Andrew Young is going to fresh fields and pastures new, and has sold out Waverley to Hawera and Hawera to Opunake lines to William Prosser, livery stable keeper, Hawera.

Dec 6 1876: The Licensing Court sat at Patea yesterday, (Thursday). Thomas Lloyd made an application for a new hotel, to be called the Empire," which was granted for the first January next.  A transfer from Thomas Lloyd to William Robert Prosser of the license of the Whenuakura Hotel was granted.

3 Oct 1877: Licensing Court, in Wellington, Mr William Prosser's application for a license for a new house just completed at Pahautanui, was refused. The applicant stated that the building had cost over £700, and when the stables were completed, the total outlay would be about £1,300. A petition was also presented, but the Bench considering the house was not required, firmly declined to grant the license.

12 May 1880: A curiosity, in the shape of a black pearl, was discovered last week, in an oyster-shell, by Mr. W. R, Prosser, livery-stable proprietor. It is not an uncommon thing, we believe, in Queensland, to find pearls in oyster-shells, but black pearls are seldom found encased with the delicious bivalves.

A change in the coaching arrangements between Wanganui and Stratford will be inaugurated to-day. In future, horses will change at Normanby instead of Hawera, at Manutahi instead of Carlyle, and there will also be a change at Whenuakua. The stages will be as follow Kai Iwi to Waitotara, Waitotara toWhenuakura; Whenuakura to Manutahi; Manutahi to Normanby and Normanby to Stratford.

24 Jun 1881: Mr Andrew Young has purchases Mr W. R. Prosser's  coach, which has been running between Hawera and Opunake for some time past. Mr, Young will take possession in a day or two.

11 jul 1882: Mr W. R. Prosser is running his coach daily between Patea and Hawera, and, judging by the amount of traffic, the time- table seems to suit the travelling public. In summer there will be ample room for the two lines.

2 apr 1884: MESSRS J. DURING & FLYNN beg to inform their friends and travelling public that they have taken over the line of Mail Coaches between Hawera and Manutahi from Mr W. R. Prosser, aad their Coaches will always be at the Railway Stations at Manutahi and Hawera on arrival of train, connecting at Hawera with Prossers Coaches to Opunake. Coaches leave Hawera for Manutahi at 5.30 a.m. & 11.10 a.m. Coaches leave Manutahi for Hawera at 12.10 a.m. & 7.60 p.m. Booking office at Hawera at Gallagher's Egmont Hotel. FRANK BAILEY, Agent.

The Whenuakura area is a farming district, and at the turn of the century, there was a population of forty-eight, with a post-office where mail was received and despatched daily. Waverley, four miles distant had the nearest telegraph office. The Whenuakura school eatablished abt 1877 and the Creamery (Charles Peffers, manager), was established 1893.

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