W
- AN EXHIBITION FROM -
AKARANA
THE
onderful
isthmus
ef ef
T HE S IR
G EORGE G R EY
S PECIAL
C OL L ECT ION S
Saturday 13 August –
Sunday 13 November
Central Library
AUCKLAND
In April 1840, John Logan Campbell referred to Auckland as
“the wonderful isthmus.” Akarana was a desirable place for
settlers with the natural advantages of an isthmus linking two
harbours providing easy transport and communication access.
Today Auckland still holds that magic for settlers, but also for
visitors, travellers and tourists.
The Auckland Akarana exhibition displays gems from
our internationally recognised Sir George Grey Special
Collections and highlights wonderful features of Auckland
from the 1800s through to more modern times.
Guided tours of the exhibition
Every Tuesday at 12 noon – 1pm, commencing 6 September
Viewing times
Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm
Saturday – Sunday: 10am – 4pm
Left:
Geof Fairfield. Looking from Point Erin
to Northcote Point, showing cars on the
newly completed Auckland Harbour
Bridge. 1959. (Photo ref: 654-32)
3
AUCKLAND AKARANA – THE WONDERFUL ISTHMUS 4
The Auckland
Akarana exhibit ion
This exhibition is an overview of the
development of Auckland Akarana from its
early beginnings through to the 21st century.
Ever since its founding in 1840 Auckland
has been growing constantly. Just last year
Auckland’s official boundaries were widened
to take in the surrounding cities and towns.
When Governor Hobson chose this place as
the site of his capital in 1840, Ngāti Whātua
had not long returned after a period in exile
following the Ngā Puhi raids of the 1820s.
As a result, the land was comparatively
unoccupied, with European entrepreneurs
waiting to see where the capital would be
before risking settlement.
The new capital, named by Hobson after his
patron the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord
Sir John Logan Campbell (3 November 1817
– 22 June 1912) was a prominent New
Zealand public figure and described by his
contemporaries as "the father of Auckland".
In 1840, he came to New Zealand, arriving
first in Coromandel and then Auckland the
then capital of New Zealand founded by
Governor William Hobson. Campbell and
William Brown (a Scottish lawyer who
arrived at the same time) were the first
Europeans to settle in the area.
Auckland, developed in a speculative and
unplanned manner, even after the capital
moved to Wellington in 1865.
It was John Logan Campbell, an early
businessman and later donor of Cornwall
Park, who called Auckland “the wonderful
isthmus”. The natural advantages of the
site, an isthmus with easy access to two
harbours, added to a mild climate and
undulating landscape, have continued to
attract settlers. This steady influx of people
has contributed to the changing dynamism
of the city and to the vitality of its business,
social and cultural life.
Curated by Georgia Prince, Iain Sharp,
Robert Eruera, Helen Stevens, and
Zoë Colling.
Logan Campbell and Brown built the first
house in Auckland (Acacia Cottage, which
still survives), and opened the first shop. He
quickly became prominent in Auckland, both
in business circles and in public life. He was
a director of the Bank of New Zealand, the
New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency
Company, and the New Zealand Insurance
Company.
Left:
Looking south east from the reclamations between Customs
Street East and Quay Street East, showing the final stages of
Point Britomart being demolished up to Emily Place. 1885.
(Photo ref: 7-A4999)
5
AUCKLAND AKARANA – THE WONDERFUL ISTHMUS 6
Exhibits
Far Left:
Apihai Te Kawau and his nephew
[Te Rēwiti] at Orākei. From: G.
F. Angas. The New Zealanders
illustrated. London: Thomas
M’Lean, 1847.
Top:
Charles Heaphy. On the volcanic
country of Auckland, New
Zealand. In: Proceedings of the
Geological Society, Nov. 30 1859.
Left:
William Hobson. Letter to Emma
Hamilton Smith, 10 Oct 1840.
(NZMS 4/57)
1. Ta n g a t a w h e n u a
2. T h e l a n d
Hira and Paora Tūhaere. From: Charles Terry.
New Zealand : its advantages and prospects
as a British colony. London: T. & W. Boone,
1842.
Auckland City Council. Auckland: Collins for
the Auckland City Council, 1971.
Apihai Te Kawau and his nephew [Te Rēwiti]
at Orākei. From: G. F. Angas. The New
Zealanders illustrated. London: Thomas
M’Lean, 1847.
George Graham. A Ngāti Whātua ki Orākei
genealogical table. Appended to: Paora
Tūhaere. A paper giving an account of the
genealogy of the ancestors of Ngāti Whātua.
Translated and expanded by George
Graham. (NZMS 725)
Site of Auckland in its Natural State.
In: G.W.A. Bush. Decently and in order :
the government of the city of Auckland
1840-1971 : the centennial history of the
7 EXHIBITS
Genealogical descent from Tūpēriri. In: Ngā
Rūnanga i Aotea (Kaipara). 1885. (NZMS 718)
Ferdinand von Hochstetter. Geological
and topographical atlas of New Zealand.
Auckland: T. Delattre, 1864.
Charles Heaphy. On the volcanic country of
Auckland, New Zealand. In: Proceedings of
the Geological Society, Nov. 30 1859.
A natural history of Auckland. Edited by
John Morton; paintings by Ron Cometti.
Auckland: Bateman; Auckland Regional
Council, 1993.
3. E a r l y E u r o p e a n settlement
Sarah Mathew. Journal. 1840. (NZMS 79)
Felton Mathew. Field book. 1840. (NZMS 99)
William Hobson. Letter to Emma Hamilton
Smith, 10 Oct 1840. (NZMS 4/57)
Peter McDonald. Autobiography. (GNZMS 94)
Old Auckland. Milne & Choyce, 1965.
AUCKLAND AKARANA – THE WONDERFUL ISTHMUS 8
Pandora, 1849-55. London: Hydrographic
Office of the Admiralty, 1857. With
corrections 1872, 1885, and manuscript
additions. (NZ Map 215)
Henry Winkelmann. Looking south-west
from the yardarm of the barque ‘C Tobias’,
to the Railway Wharf and Quay Street and
Customs Street East, 5 March 1904.
(Photo ref: 589-143)
W. Beattie and Co. A view of Queen Street
Wharf. Early 1900s. (Photo ref: 589-142)
Looking north-east from Wood Street,
Ponsonby across central Auckland towards
Mount Victoria, North Head and Rangitoto
beyond. Early 1900s. (Photo ref: 1013-5)
Left:
James D. Richardson. Bishop
Selwyn with William Martin.
1862. (Photo ref: 4-3282)
Above:
Looking north-east from
Wood Street, Ponsonby
across central Auckland
towards Mount Victoria,
North Head and Rangitoto
beyond. Early 1900s. (Photo
ref: 1013-5)
4. C h u r c h s e t t l e m e n t
Bishop Selwyn. Letter to Sir George Grey, 8
September 1846. (GLNZ S16.1)
James D. Richardson. Bishop Selwyn with
William Martin. 1862. (Photo ref: 4-3282)
Caroline Abraham. Waitemata Harbour with
St Barnabas Church, Parnell. 1850s.
(NZ Print 111)
9 EXHIBITS
James D. Richardson. Photograph of a
drawing by John Kinder of St Stephens
Chapel, Parnell, 1878. (Photo ref: 4-1188)
Frank Wright. A kindly Christian gentleman :
William Garden Cowie, Bishop of Auckland
1869-1902. Auckland: Polygraphia, 2007.
5. H a r b o u r s , p o r t s and w h a r v e s
Auckland Harbour Board. Proposed
Waitemata-Manukau canal : reports and
plans re Whau and Tamaki routes. Auckland:
Auckland Harbour Board, 1908.
Eric W. Young. Looking over the Waitemata
Harbour, showing a yacht regatta on
Auckland Anniversary Day. 1980s.
(Photo ref: 1021-281)
Harding & Billing’s illustrated pocket guide
to Auckland and district, with full information
of tourist and pleasure resorts. Auckland:
Harding & Billing, 1906.
William H. Hamer. Diary, 1905. (NZMS 1595)
Onehunga & Manukau Harbour in the early
sixties. Looking south from Mr Hardington’s
property, Mt Smart Road. 1860s.
(Photo ref: 5-730)
Entrances to Auckland Harbour surveyed by
Captain J. L. Stokes, Commander B. Drury
and the officers of H.M.S. Acheron and
W. Beattie. Looking south-west from
Rangitoto towards North Head, Mount
Victoria and Devonport. Early 1900s.
(Photo ref: 589-140)
W. Beattie. Auckland waterfront from the
Queen Street Wharf. Early 1900s.
(Photo ref: 1013-2)
Gladys M. Goodall. Looking north across
the business district of Auckland towards the
harbour and Rangitoto Island. 1960s.
(Photo ref: 369-123)
Craig Potton. Showing Sky Tower in the
centre, with the waterfront including viaduct
basin, Westhaven marina and Auckland
Harbour Bridge in the background. 1990s.
(Photo ref: 625-40)
Wilson Bros. Composite postcard showing
sketches of Grafton Bridge, with Rangitoto,
North Head, and Mount Victoria beyond, and
two seaside suburbs. c1910-1919.
(Photo ref: 589-141)
Glennys E. Mullane. Panorama from North
Head, looking over part of Devonport
towards the central city with the Waitakere
Ranges in the background. 1990s.
(Photo ref: 625-48)
AUCKLAND AKARANA – THE WONDERFUL ISTHMUS 10
Right:
Looking south east from the
reclamations between Customs
Street East and Quay Street East,
showing the final stages of Point
Britomart being demolished up to
Emily Place. 1885.
(Photo ref: 7-A4999)
Below:
Thomas Matravers. Sketch of
three military guards standing
along a building verandah at
Albert Barracks, Auckland. 1863
-1868 (Photo ref: 3-137-26a)
6. R e c l a m a t i o n
Wise’s New Zealand directory map of the
city of Auckland, N.Z. 1875. Dunedin: Henry
Wise, 1875. (NZ Map 355)
James D. Richardson. Looking south-west
from Hobson Street towards Ponsonby,
showing Freemans Bay and reclamations.
1877. (Photo ref: 4-567)
John Nichol Crombie. Panorama of the
Auckland waterfront, 4 October 1859. Copy
by James D. Richardson. (Photo ref: 4-1119,
4-1120, 4-1121)
Graham Stewart. Auckland before the Harbour
Bridge. Wellington: Grantham House, 2002.
7. P a r k s
Workmen and onlookers on the top of
Point Britomart at the commencement of
reclamations. c1875. (Photo ref: 932-7)
A pictorial map of places around Auckland
City from 1840 to 1860, drawn in 1951 by
John Cecil Hill. (NZ Map 4647)
People having afternoon tea in the Huia Lodge
in Cornwall Park, 31 October 1909. (Photo ref:
Henry Winkelmann. View of the lake at
Western Springs, 4 September 1924.
7-A11548)
(Photo ref: 1-W504)
Beginning reclamation work at Point
Britomart. c1875. (Photo ref: 932-1)
Plan showing the Albert Barracks. (NZ Map 4616)
A design for the layout of Albert Park after the
barracks left. 1881. (NZ Map 4716)
Henry Winkelmann. Looking south west in the
direction of Hillsborough, showing the Cornwall
golf links. 1903. (Photo ref: 1-W1077)
Looking north from above vicinity of Wellesley
Street East, over Albert Park and Princes Street,
12 December 1967. (Photo ref: 7-A4112)
The memorial to Sir John Logan Campbell on
the summit of One Tree Hill, December 12,
1968. (Photo ref: 7-A4163)
Beattie and Sanderson. A crowd watching
the military tournament and sports in the
Auckland Domain, on the occasion of Queen
Victoria’s jubilee celebrations, 22 June 1897.
James D Richardson. Albert Barracks as seen
from the Auckland waterfront, with Mount
Eden in the background, and a group of Māori
in the foreground. 1850. (Photo ref: 4-4543)
View of One tree Hill from road to the summit,
showing memorial obelisk to Sir John Logan
Campbell on skyline. December 10, 1968.
Thomas Matravers. Sketch of three military
guards standing along a building verandah
at Albert Barracks, Auckland. 1863 -1868
Looking across Western Springs Lake, showing
the Auckland City Council’s pumping station.
1920s. (Photo ref: 7-A15966)
(Photo ref: 3-137-26a)
R. B. Walrond. Showing fishermen on banks
of stream. 1894. (Photo ref: 7-A1725)
Point Britomart before the reclamations.
c1875. (Photo ref: 932-4)
Workmen removing spoil by horse and cart
from the base of Point Britomart during
reclamation work. c1875. (Photo ref: 932-2)
James D. Richardson. Men working on
the cutting and carting of spoil during the
demolition of Point Britomart. 1875. (Photo
ref: 4-2699, 4-2700)
Looking south east from the reclamations
between Customs Street East and Quay
Street East, showing the final stages of Point
Britomart being demolished up to Emily
Place. 1885. (Photo ref: 7-A4999)
11 EXHIBITS
Members of the old Maungakiekie Golf Club,
One Tree Hill. Early 1900s. (Photo ref: 7-A3790)
(Photo ref: 7-A4237)
(Photo ref: 7-A15800)
Entrance to the Winter Gardens, Auckland
Domain, October 27, 1963. (Photo ref: 7- A888)
The north and west faces of the Museum and
the cenotaph, October 27, 1963.
(Photo ref: 7-A879)
AUCKLAND AKARANA – THE WONDERFUL ISTHMUS 12
Opposite:
H. Earle Vaile. Two women at Takapuna Beach.
Jan. 1908. (Photo ref: 2-V1010)
Above: Geof Fairfield. Looking from Point Erin
to Northcote Point, showing cars on the newly
completed Auckland Harbour Bridge. 1959.
(Photo ref: 654-32)
Left:
Tram ticket. 8 June 1932 – 31 August 1935.
(Ephemera Collection)
8. B e a c h e s
9. T r a n s p o r t
Muriwai the beautiful. Auckland: Brett, 1923.
Auckland City Council Bus no 1. Early 1920s.
H. Earle Vaile. Two women at Takapuna
Beach. Jan. 1908. (Photo ref: 2-V1010)
(Photo ref: 7-A2770)
Looking east from Queen Street. 1908.
(Photo ref: 7-A1729)
1 0. T h e B r i d g e
E. A. and A. A. Gledhill of the Waitemata
Bicycle Club. (Photo ref: 3-Album-64)
Auckland Transport. Timetable and guide
: Herne Bay, Mt Eden, Three Kings. 1931.
F. G. Radcliffe. Looking south up Queen
Street, Auckland Central. c1910-1919.
(Ephemera Collection)
(Photo ref: 35-R17)
(Ephemera Collection)
Voting paper. ‘City of Auckland – Proposal to
run Electric Tramcars on the Lord’s Day’. To
be voted upon September 13, 1903.
Auckland City Council. Traffic Department.
Motor register for the city of Auckland, 19061918. (NZMS 90)
Tram ticket. 8 June 1932 – 31 August 1935.
Geof Fairfield. Looking from Point Erin to
Northcote Point, showing cars on the newly
completed Auckland Harbour Bridge. 1959.
(Photo ref: 654-32)
Looking north-east from the western side
of the Auckland Harbour Bridge showing
Northcote in the left distance. 11 July 1976.
(Photo ref: 459-129)
1951-1961, The Auckland Harbour Bridge
Authority. Auckland: Clark & Matheson, 1962.
(OCM Ephemera)
13 EXHIBITS
AUCKLAND AKARANA – THE WONDERFUL ISTHMUS 14
Right:
Herne Bay in the western
suburbs. For sale by auction
on Tuesday 17th March 1863.
(NZ Map 4495-46)
Opposite:
Be playmates with happiness,
live at the North Shore,
Auckland. Auckland, c1928.
1 1. P r e - w a r s u b u r b s
Robin Morrison. Auckland : city and sea.
Auckland: Century Hutchinson, 1989.
Auckland City Council. Housing in Freemans
Bay being demolished for new Auckland
Council housing. c1953-1955. (Photo ref:
580-1065)
Sait Akkirman. Auckland architecture :
a personal view. Auckland: Sait and Judith
Akkirman, 1999.
James Richardson. Pensioner’s cottage in
15 EXHIBITS
1 2. P o s t - w a r s u b u r b s
Panmure. 1939. (Photo ref: 4-2574)
Ernest Binns. Members of the Binns family in
the back garden of 13 Francis St, Grey Lynn.
c1908-1910. (Photo ref: 80-BIN217)
James Siers. Above Auckland. Wellington:
Millwood Press, 1986.
Tamaki. c1960. (Photo ref: A62539)
Max White. Every building on Avondale main
street. Auckland: M. White, 2004.
Maps of Mangere East and Otahuhu. In:
Auckland city and suburbs. Universal Business
Directories Ltd. Map directory, 1966.
Herne Bay in the western suburbs. For sale
by auction on Tuesday 17th March 1863. (NZ
Be playmates with happiness, live at the
North Shore, Auckland. Auckland, c1928.
Western Leader. Tuesday 25 September,
1973.
Map 4495-46)
Clifton Apartments, real estate. 1968.
Ephemera Collection.
House at Lincoln Road, Henderson for Mr and
Mrs Averill. In: Design review. Wellington:
Architectural Centre, v. 2 no 4. Dec. 1949 –
Jan. 1950.
West Newtown, section 10, to be sold by
auction by Ridings & Dowden on Thursday
2nd July 1863. (NZ Map 4495-6)
National Publicity Studios. Housing
development, duplex units, Pilkington Road,
AUCKLAND AKARANA – THE WONDERFUL ISTHMUS 16
1 4. E d u c a t i o n
1 3. B u s i n e s s
Auckland University College. Formerly
Parliament Building in Eden Street presently
Parliament Street. 1907. (Photo ref: 7-A5582)
Dr. Logan Campbell on the slope of
Rangitoto. November 1901. (Photo ref: AWNS-
Auckland University College. Physics
Laboratory. 1901. (Photo ref: 7-A10106)
David Nathan. (Photo ref: 7-A11692)
Members of the Auckland University College
Council, Auckland. 1894. (Photo ref: 7-A11252)
L. D. Nathan (Firm). Ledger for 1912-16.
James D. Richardson. Auckland Grammar
School’s main building and library with stone
fenced rugby field in foreground. 1931.
Fletcher Holdings Ltd. Annual reports for
1970, 1971, 1973, 1975. From: National
Business Review. Records. (NZMS 1634)
(Photo ref: 4-2806)
Sir George Grey. Opening of the Auckland
College & Grammar School, Thursday,
February 5, 1880. Auckland: Wm. McCullough,
1880.
Playbill. Mr Serle’s Benefit, including Billy
Taylor or, The gay young fellow. Performed
at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Shortland
Crescent, Auckland. July 8, 1844.
Henry Winkelmann. Auckland Girls Grammar
School, April 1926. (Photo ref: 1-W602)
(OCM Ephemera)
School report for M. H. Moon of Auckland
College and Grammar School, Feb, 1889.
(OCM Ephemera)
Saint Stephens Māori Boy’s College with
Reverend Bishop Cowie of Auckland after
delivering an address. 1900. (Photo ref:
Left:
School report for M. H. Moon of Auckland
College and Grammar School, Feb, 1889.
(OCM Ephemera)
17 EXHIBITS
(NZMS 690)
1 5. C u l t u r e
Auckland Girls’ Grammar School scenes
1916. From: Auckland Girl’s Grammar School
Jubilee Magazine 1888-1938. Auckland:
The School, 1938.
Above:
Playbill. Mr Serle’s Benefit, including
Billy Taylor or, The gay young fellow.
Performed at the Royal Victoria Theatre,
Shortland Crescent, Auckland. July 8,
1844. (OCM Ephemera)
L.D. Nathan. 1898. (Photo ref: 7-A9937)
(Photo ref: 7-A11182)
Auckland Grammar School prefects. 1917.
Top left:
David Nathan. (Photo ref: 7-A11692)
19011114-11-2)
7-A5953)
James D. Richardson. Queen Victoria Māori
Girls School. 1940. (Photo ref: 4-2663)
Robert Croudace Joplin. New Zealand :
a poem. Auckland: Printed by John Moore,
1843.
Marti Friedlander. Group portrait of Frank
Sargeson, C K Stead, Hone Tuwhare and
James K Baxter at a poetry reading in
Auckland. (Photo ref: 683-2).
Colin McCahon. Programme designed for
Frank Sargeson’s play ‘The cradle and the
egg’. 1962. From: Ray Dormer. Papers.
(NZMS 1211)
Split Enz. The beginning of the Enz. Australia:
Mushroom Records, 1979.
Queen Victoria Māori Girls School students in
class at the 1903 opening. (Photo ref: 7-A12340)
James D. Richardson. Album of photographs
collated by James D. Richardson showing
photographs of St Andrews Melanesian Mission,
St Johns College, St Stephens College and views
of St Thomas’ Church. (Photo ref: Album 35)
AUCKLAND AKARANA – THE WONDERFUL ISTHMUS 18
Sir
George
Grey
SPECIA L COLLECTIONS
Ta- Hori Kerei - Nga- kohinga taonga whakahirahira
ef
Auckland Libraries owes the beginnings of its world-class collections of rare books and
manuscripts to the generous gift of Sir George Grey’s library in 1882.
1 6. W a l l s
Eric Young. From North Head to Auckland
City. 1980s (Photo ref: 1021-475)
Auckland, the complete map. Kiwimaps,
2011.
Auckland in 1844. W.J. Weir, 1844.
Reproduction of: Gottfried Lindauer. Paora
Tūhaere. 1878. (Auckland Art Gallery Toi o
(NZ Map 6358)
Reproduction of: City of Auckland… from
actual survey by J. Vercoe and E.W. Harding,
1866. (NZ Map 1097)
Tāmaki)
Pulman’s register map of the City of Auckland,
1863. (NZ Map 4475-1)
Tāmaki)
Christopher Matthews. Tank farm. 1990.
(Photo ref: 273-MAT 272 – 273-MAT 275)
Plates from: Frederick Rice Stack. Views in the
Province of New Zealand. London: Day and
Son, 1863.
Reproduction of: Gottfried Lindauer. Te Hira
Te Kawau. 1874. (Auckland Art Gallery Toi o
View across central Auckland from the
Farmers building. c1949. (Photo ref: 941-2)
Datashow. Images of Auckland by Henry
Winkelmann.
The promise of his library to the citizens of Auckland was conveyed in a short telegram,
and was followed up by the delivery of his collections to the newly opened Auckland Public
Library in 1887.
Grey’s superb collection of medieval manuscripts, early printed books and milestones in
literature and science also includes books and manuscripts in Māori and English relating to
New Zealand and to his terms as Governor from 1845 – 1853 and 1861 – 1868.
This gift inspired other benefactors to continue to give to the library, creating the rich and
varied collection available to researchers today.
These feature in the regular programme of exhibitions on Level 2 of the Central Library.
Individual items can be requested for viewing in the Reading Room.
For more information:
phone 09 307 7758 or email [email protected]
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz
Follow Auckland Libraries on facebook and twitter
Henry Winkelmann. Panorama from
Partington’s Windmill. October 1900. (Photo
ref: 1-W286, 1-W115, 1-W123, 1-W130)
Henry Winkelmann. Panorama from Saint
Matthews Church Tower. 7 February 1927.
(Photo ref: 1-W747, 1-W749, 1-W750, 1-W751,
1-W752)
19 EXHIBITS
Above:
Plate from: Frederick Rice Stack.
Views in the Province of New Zealand.
London: Day and Son, 1863.
AUCKLAND AKARANA – THE WONDERFUL ISTHMUS 20