Takapau was founded following a survey of the Oruawharo station. The Johnston family, who owned the Oruawharo station, helped establish many civic and religious institutions within the town.
Takapau was surveyed out of the Oruawharo station on 19 September 1876, under the auspice of Sydney Johnston, who was managing the station that belonged to his father. Sydney also made donations to establish St Vincent's Church (Catholic) and St Mark's Church (Anglican), the town hall, and library. In addition Sydney set aside land for the school and gifted land for a Plunket building. Many of the streets in Takapau are named after members of the Johnston family and the Takapau cemetery has a memorial gate dedicated to Sydney.
Takapau was once the centre of a large flax milling industry, and the community takes its name from the flax that grew in the expansive Takapau plains. The Māori word translates literally as "mat" or "carpet"
Below are some photos that capture Takapau and surroundings in the last 150 years.
