This year the Society took a journey through early Auckland via four historic houses – places you always mean to visit, but never get around to. In June we visited Highwic. Bruce Wild, architect and Society committee member, wrote a wonderful analysis of the architecture in issue #52 which I encourage you to read. July was Alberton. It was interesting to compare the architecture of Highwic and Alberton, and in particular, the differences in creature comforts, wealth, and the renovations and extensions of the houses. The double-hung doors at Alberton were of particular interest. In September we visited Ewelme where we explored the cottage’s association with MOTAT through the Lush family. Finally, in October, we went to Kinder House (just up the road from Ewelme). Kinder House is the oldest of the four, and the only one to be built of stone. A key architectural feature was the addition of a lean-to on either side in the hope it would hold up the huge stone walls in the case of an earthquake. Highwic, Alberton, and Ewelme, were all built in or around 186. Kinder was built 6 years prior, in 1957.
Together the houses paint a picture of colonial Auckland, a picture of a very specific time. The Auckland of that time is hard to picture beyond the walls of the houses, when at Highwic you step out from under the trees to find 277 Newmarket on the doorstep. And so, the final trip of the year was to the Sir George Grey Special Collections at the public library to find out what Auckland was like at that time. The maps and research librarian unveiled an incredible treasure trove of early Auckland maps which brought to life the streets of Auckland from 1850s to 1920s. A particular treat was the Auckland Fire Insurance maps which detailed every building in Auckland including any outhouses, and the materials the building was made from. The maps had been edited over time with layers added to reflect the changing city.
If you’re interested in taking a look at the library’s collection of heritage maps, an extraordinary number of them are available online. If you’d like to see the maps in person, Special Collections is keen to show you, just book an appointment online
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