Changing signs

It's been a bit of a journey, involving both the old Avondale Community Board and the newer Whau Local Board, stretching back to 2004 in one case, but -- now officially two of the local reserves have been renamed.

The saga of Gittos Domain (formerly Avondale South Domain) began when after informal discussions between Avondale-Waterview Historical Society and Blockhouse Bay Historical Society, AWHS went ahead and wrote a supporting letter to the Avondale Community Board recommending the name change in June 2004.

"Re: Renaming proposal for Avondale South Domain, Blockhouse Bay 

"It has come to the notice of the Avondale-Waterview Historical Society that the Blockhouse Bay Historical Group are about to apply to the Avondale Community Board to begin the process of renaming the Avondale South Domain, and will be offering the suggestion of “Gittos Domain”. This is to advise the Board that this proposal and the suggested name has the complete support and backing of our Society, as resolved at our latest meeting on the 5th of June this year.

"To recognise Blockhouse Bay settler Mr. Francis Gittos and his family in this way has importance beyond the obvious one to the Bay, that of recognition of a family who had done much to help assist the community in which they lived and create lasting landmarks there. Francis Gittos made his mark in Avondale, too, while his family had an influence that extended beyond the boundaries of our city. The Gittos family came to New Zealand in 1841, settling initially in the Hokianga where Francis was born in 1843. They moved to Auckland in 1846, and here Francis’ father Benjamin was a teacher, shoemaker, and ultimately by 1857 a leather and grindery merchant, establishing a tannery in the Whau (Avondale) district in 1864-65 in the area presently at the corner of New North and Blockhouse Bay Roads, including Tait and Trent Street, and extending nearly to Pak n’ Save supermarket, Mt Albert. This was one of Avondale’s earliest industries and employers, having a staff at one time of up to 60, and lasting here until 1884.

"Francis worked for his father at the tannery (the Gittos family today consider that he may have been a salesman for the firm). In November 1867, Francis Gittos, then a member of the Whau Public Hall committee, proposed that "the members of the Committee procure as many books as possible for the formation of a library for the Hall," and thus started the idea of libraries in this district which continues on with our present day Community Libraries at Avondale and Blockhouse Bay. Francis Gittos was also a landowner in this area at that time, and served on the Whau Highway District Board, his farm in the vicinity of the present day Avondale Baptist Church. In 1874, he left the district for a time, but had returned by the early 1880s, buying land on Rosebank Peninsula and setting up a small tannery on the northern side. He came to live in Blockhouse Bay, near the corner of Donovan Street and Blockhouse Bay Roads ... and on 14th June 1890 leased from the Crown the Recreation Reserve in Avondale South (now the Avondale South Domain).

"There, he started another small tannery, beside one of the small creeks that ran across present day Lewis Street (I understand from Ray Kealey of the Blockhouse Bay History Group that Lewis Street was once called Gittos Street). He remained in Blockhouse Bay, as a tanner and settler, until 1920, and died in Mt Eden in 1924. Francis Gittos and his family in Blockhouse Bay helped raise funds for the building of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd (today located at MOTAT), the St Andrew's Church hall, and the Green Bay Mission Hall (later the lounge of the Blockhouse Bay Baptist Church. The tall, old pines that are a well-known and easily sighted landmark in Blockhouse Bay town are associated with Francis Gittos, and believed to have been planted by him.

"The Gittos family have been commemorated twice by the naming of streets in Auckland: Gittos Street in Blockhouse Bay (after Francis Gittos), and Gittos Road in Parnell (now Parnell Rise). This latter commemoration was in honour of Francis' brother, the Rev. William Gittos, a pioneer Wesleyan Methodist missionary and influential figure in the greater Auckland region. Both commemorations of this pioneer family have been lost to time. Therefore, in the interests of recognition of the contribution this family has made to the history and the making of the Avondale and Blockhouse Bay districts, the Avondale-Waterview Historical Society urge the Avondale Community Board and Auckland City Council to seriously and positively consider renaming the Avondale South Domain in honour of Mr. Francis Gittos and his hard working family"

New name tacked onto an old sign (down below, it still refers to Avondale South Domain), but this is still a victory. In 2009, the Avondale Community Board agreed to the namke change -- but then things went slightly astray. In the middle of last year, I approached the Whau Local Board both for this renaming ... and another at New Windsor Reserve.

In 2010, just before the end of Auckland City Council and the Avondale Community Board, Don Currey, son of Arthur Currey, a former landowner, wrote to the Board suggesting that reserve be so renamed as well. AWHS again supported this. But ... nothing had happened by the middle of last year. After I approached the Whau Local Board, however, things moved. The Aucklander took an interest.

And now -- a new sign.

Wish someone would have been kind enough to let our Society know about the installation, but -- at least there it is.

Street Stories 22: The broom maker

Thomas J Harbutt, from the Harbutt family history, courtesy Keith Salmon

In 1876, Thomas Jefcoate Harbutt and his familyarrived in Auckland via the Hero. An ironmonger by trade, he was born in 1830, in North Shields, Northumberland. By his first wife, Elizabeth Leslie, he had two sons and two daughters. Elizabeth died in 1864, however; Thomas remarried, this time to Annabelle Jennings in 1867, and the family then moved to the island of Jersey. Three more sons were born there, along with two daughters. The family apparently returned to Northumberland briefly: an illuminated address was provided to Harbutt in 1875 following the announcement of the leaving his native land for the distant colony.

August 12. — A farewell dinner was given in the Albion Hotel, North Shields, to Mr. T. J. Harbutt, who was about leaving his native town for New Zealand, when a splendidly-illuminated address, in a large gilt frame, was also presented to him. It contained at the top striking portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Harbutt, and
bore the following inscription : —

Thomas Jefcoate Harbutt, Esq.

Respected and dear Sir, — We, the undersigned tradesmen of North Shields, beg your acceptance of this address, on the occasion of your leaving this country for New Zealand, as a token of our personal regard and esteem, and as a mark of our appreciation of your unswerving integrity, untiring energy, and amiability as a man of business, which have not only caused you to be endeared to, and respected by, all with whom you have come in contact, but have also been very materially the means of improving the commercial position of this your native town ; and also as indicating our earnest hope that, in your new sphere of labour, you may meet with the success which cannot fail to crown the efforts of one who has given such proofs of his energy and attainments. 

Much of the personal information on the Harbutts comes from a series of family trees published on Rootsweb, a set of pages which provided answers to the origins of a number of streets in what was once Harbutt's Estate in Mt Albert.

On arriving in Auckland, the family initially settled in a store at Shortland Street, where Harbutt set himself up as a general grocer.

 Auckland Star 27 April 1876

WANTED, for the Brush Trade, three or four young Girls; also one or two Drawing hands; 1s 2d per lb. given for horse hair.—Thos. J. Harbutt, Brush Manufacturer, Shortland-street.

AS 18.10.1876

But soon, he started to specialise.

Auckland Star 14 April 1877

He shifted his brushware manufacturing business to the corner of Victoria and Kitchener Streets (or Coburg Street, as the latter was known in the days before World War I). At some point in 1877, he purchased land at Devonport, called "Rosebank", and set up the family home, father to two more sons and daughters each -- although here is an ad were at least part was up for letting.

To Let immediately, “Rosebank," the well-known Tea and Strawberry Gardens, six-roomed House, outhouses, and 4 acres of first-class volcanic soil.— Apply to Thomas J. Harbutt, Brush-works, Victoria-street.

 AS 25 August 1877

 Auckland Star 11 September 1877

Harbutt did extremely well with his business. Locally manufactured brushes and brooms, using both local (horsehair and wood for example) and imported raw materials were of course cheaper than the imported versions from either Australia or as far afield as America or England. He apparently sold his products wholesale to the likes of hotel chains, for example -- and here, he had done well, setting up business just as the likes of John Logan Campbell, Louis Ehrenfried, Hancocks Brewery and the Seccombe family were on the rise and accumulating their hospitality empires.

Upon the manufacture of brushware "Veritas" writes "Sir, —I was sorry not to observe amongst the exhibits at the Pastoral and Agricultural Exhibition of local industry brushware, now so well made here, and on asking the manufacturer I was informed that the support and patronage given to his goods, admitted quite equal, if not superior, and as cheap as imported, is so small that he is thinking of leaving, and has already had to discharge a number of hands, many of them after learning a new trade; this is greatly to be regretted because this industry has given employment to a number of girls and boys, and must tend to develop local talent. I trust, sir, the trade will do all they possibly can to encourage Mr Harbutt's manufactures, and retain this industry within the province his goods being admittedly better and cheaper than imported." 

 AS 10 November 1877 

NOTICE 

THOS. J. HARBUTT 

Has pleasure in intimating to his friends, Wholesale Merchants, Importers, and the Trade generally, that it is not his desire to change his locality, nor give up the Wholesale Manufacture of Brushes now carried on in Coburg-street, Auckland, but rather, from the very hearty expressions of sympathy and support which more recently has been given him, his firm determination is to keep pegging away, and with health and continued perseverance, to wait patiently the good time coming. The industry has taken good root, and he feels sure will not need transplanting. This notice he feels is due to the trade, as from a recent friendly paragraph in the public papers it might appear he had definitely decided to leave, and this might operate against him in their future orders. His best efforts are being put forth to make his Manufactured Goods a success, and equal to anything in the market, and he never was better prepared to receive and execute all orders entrusted to him, T.J.H. would take this opportunity of announcing that he intends gradually adding the Wholesale Manufacture of Painting Brushes, Household and Market Baskets, &c, &c, in addition to the Household Brushes now made in his commodious premises, Coburg-street, Auckland. 

AS 30.11.1877 

The Wellington Post notice the receipt by Mr Jeffs, of a sample of brushware, manufactured by Mr T. J. Harbutt, of Auckland. The Post says “They are really a first-class sample, and the prices are extremely low—about two-thirds the price of English goods." 

AS 30.3.1878 

Hundredth Trip of the s.s. Hero.
PRESENTATIONS TO CAPT. LOGAN AND PURSER COGSWELL.
A LARGE number of the most influential citizens assembled in the large room of the Insurance Buildings this afternoon, to witness and assist in the presentations to Captain Logan and Mr Cogswell, of the s.s. Hero, which steamer has just concluded her 100th consecutive passage to this port … His Worship read a letter from Thomas B. Harbutt, dated from the Brushworks, in which he begged to forward a coat-brush as a token of his esteem for Captain Logan, and stated that when he came here two years ago with Captain Logan he little thought that he would be able to present such a specimen of local industry. (The brush is very beautifully made, is engrossed with Captain Logan's name, and will do great credit to Auckland's industries.)

AS 3 April 1878

 

Knowing the admirable character of Mr Harbutt's establishment we have much pleasure in giving publicity to fill in an omission from our report:
"Dear Sir: I seem to have been unfortunate in not attracting the notice of your reporter at the late Cambridge Show. The "Herald" gives me three words, but you ignore my existence, which we little manufacturers feel sore about. You can do good service to such by a word in season. I employ now above 35 hands, young and old, and send goods all over the country, but I want the home trade here as well, yet find it the more difficult to secure, although the goods are acknowledged to be of value. I intend to show at Ellerslie Exhibition, when probably he may have a better opportunity of judging.—Yours respectfully, Thomas J. Harbutt."

AS 28 October 1878

(Second annual show by Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association) Brushware.—Mr T. Harbutt exhibited upwards of 50 varieties of brush ware and secured 1st prize. 

AS 14.11.1878 

Melbourne Exhibition 1880
Harbutt, Thomas J., Wholesale Brush Manufacturer, Victoria-street, Auckland— Brushware, made of bristles, hair, fibre, whisk, &c.; made by persons taught the trade within the last four years. 

 AS 20.10.1880

Thomas Harbutt was, it would seem, among the first, if not the first of the late Victorian employers in the city to institute the great tradition of the age, the Company Excursion.

We were glad to see that Mr Thos. J. Harbutt, brushmaker, on Saturday last set a very good example to the employers of Auckland in giving his employees an invitation to spend a day with him at the North Shore, which was responded to in a very unanimous and hearty manner. The party had a line and delightful day of it. They commenced their day's pleasure by leaving Auckland in the 10.30 boat, and after enjoying the pleasant trip across, assembled at the Devonport Hall, specially engaged for the purpose, and ridding themselves of their surplus clothing, started off for a ramble. After a pleasant walk upon the beach, and climbing hill and rock, they returned to the hall, to find that in the interval busy hands had been at work to meet the demand of their keen appetites. The hall had been tastefully decorated, and the tables bore evidence of a full supply of good things. Dinner over, off they went attain, evidently bent on enjoying themselves, and engaged in racing, cricketing, &c, returning to the hall at six for tea, to find that there was still a plentiful supply. After tea, the hall was lit up, and a number of musical pieces, duets, &c, were gone through in a very creditable style. During the evening a variety of games were played, and before breaking up a very warm and hearty vote of thanks was awarded to Mr Harbutt and family for the very excellent manner in which they had entertained their guests. After spending a pleasant day, the party returned to the city by the 9 o'clock boat. This is the first annual gathering of the kind in the trade, and we hope it will not be the last; for it must be gratifying to all to see such a good understanding between workpeople and employers. 

AS 4.11.1878

Three years later, he was the chairman for the inaugural meeting of the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, and served on the board of directors. (AS 9.3.1881)

Auckland Star 3 October 1881

In September-October 1881, he changed his business once more. Selling off the brushware manufacturing side (AS 1.10.1881), he concentrated, from that point until his death, on brooms. Specifically, brooms made from American broom corn.

Auckland Star 3 October 1881 

I wondered what on earth would have been the reason to discard around 50 product lines, items which were used in those days to clean debris and dust in flour mills, other factories, hotels, shops, the domestic household ... just for brooms? The answer? Brooms were  more profitable by far.

… in the last year the country imported… brushware and brooms, £17,675. Of this last item, a large portion is for articles of the broom class, which could be very easily produced at home— the cultivation of the "broom corn" as a regular crop being a profitable occupation for the farmer, extensively followed in the United States, and now being introduced into New South Wales, and the manufacture of the brooms from this material a very simple process. 

 BOP Times 23.12.1879

He did add to the broom product lines, however, something called a "combination scrub and mop wringer."

PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT THOS. J. HARBUTT has pleasure in announcing to the public and his numerous Business Friends that he has joined MR A. EASTON in his PATENT COMBINATION SCRUB AND MOP WRINGER and will, in the future, carry on the wholesale manufacture of the same, at his Corn Broom Factory, Basque Road, from whence all orders will be promptly attended to. Patents have been scoured for the whole of New Zealand, as well as Victorla. New South Wales, England, America, &c. December, 1885. 

 AS 2.1.1886

Thomas Harbutt becomes the focus of this particular Street Stories post from June 1883, when he purchased just over 31 acres of land on Allotment 58 in Mt Albert from Bombay farmer Wright Lindsay. The land was split into two parts, thanks to the Kaipara Railway line which was opened in 1880. Three acres of future residential land fronting New North Road was separated from a farm of just over 28 acres, which came to be known as Oakleigh (after, I'd say, the Oakley Creek forming one of the boundaries. Oakleigh wasn't all that original though -- the other "Oakleigh" was in Waterview, beside the Star Mill site, known by that name from the late 1870s.)

There, Harbutt built a residence -- possibly at around No. 4 Woodward Road today (more later this post), and fathered still more children: three more daughters and a son.

Diagram from NA 36/177, LINZ records, crown copyright

Those who travel to Mount Albert cannot but be forcibly struck with that dangerous railway crossing at Morningside. It is somewhat singular that Mr Harbutt, at the recent meeting of the Mount Albert Highway Board, pointed out this danger, and urged that a bridge be constructed. The people will be somewhat aroused now to hear that yesterday morning, at about a quarter to nine, Mr Harbutt’s son had a narrow escape at that place. He was riding to town, and on coming up to the crossing and seeing the train, he at once drew back about 20 yards to allow it to pass, but as soon as the train came up, the horse was frightened, and instead of backing, he rushed forward to the train. The boy kept him back as much as he could till the train passed, when the horse bolted after the train, and came up so close that a carriage struck it a blow upon the leg, but not doing much injury. The boy and horse had to leap about 10 feet, which just saved them from a horrible death. It is time the railway authorities rectified this matter, or in the future some fearful accident may be recorded. 

AS 28.10.1884 

Initially, it appears that Harbutt used the 28 acre farm to raise income from it through renting or leasing.

TO LET The Oakley Dairy Farm at Mount Albert, now occupied by Mr R. J. Souster, containing 28 acres of good Land, and valuable water supply. The live and dead stock to be purchased at a valuation, for Cash.— Full particulars can be obtained on application to Mr T J Harbutt, Eden Terrace, or Mr F. A. White. Queen-street. 

AS 16.11.1887 

It was described in a later ad as a “first class farm, 4 miles out, 28 acres, volcanic, fine creek, 8-roomed house and outbuildings."

AS 12.5.1888 

Auckland Star 14 August 1883 

In 1883, Thomas J Harbutt introduced his "Kapai" brand for the corn brooms he manufactured, importing the raw material from America, via his son Lawrence who lived there in the early and the late 1880s (one of Lawrence's children, however, was born in Auckland in 1885). Lawrence (1861-1937) appears to have written a pamphlet which met with some interest from Queensland -- part of his father's efforts, I would say, to save money, make more profit, and pay less for importing broom corn from a closer source.

"Hints for the Culture of Broom Corn,” by L. Harbutt, Kapai Corn Broom Factory, Auckland, N. Z., is the title of a pamphlet which gives all that is to be said upon the subject it treats of. Broom corn grows in Queensland quite as readily as any other sorghum, and there is no reason why its manufacture should not become one of our industries. Mr. Harbutt has established a factory at Auckland and is prepared to buy any quantity of the broom-brush from Queensland growers at from £16 to £30 per ton for good samples, and a higher price for choice parcels. We should be glad to see him come over to Queensland and start a similar factory here, for most assuredly he could by a little publicity of his intentions obtain any quantity of brush to work upon. In the United States there are no less than 625 factories engaged in making brooms and whisks, employing 5206 hands turning out brooms to the value of $6,600,000 annually. We have in past years referred to this subject and given instruction as to the method of growing the plant and preparing the broom, but we shall avail ourselves Mr Harbutt’s pamphlet to again, in an early issue return to the matter. In the meantime we would mention, upon the authority of Mr James Warner, Survey Office, Brisbane, who kindly forwarded us the above pamphlet that he has received from Mr. Harbutt a small packet of the right kind of seed, and that it will be sown in the garden of the Acclimitisation Society with a view to future distribution. 

 The Queenslander 2.7.1887 

 Auckland Star 14 June 1884

From 1884 to 1889, Harbutt was even a feature at Eden Terrace. Somewhere along Basque Road, just down from the Upper Symonds Street shopping precinct, he had his second factory.

Auckland Star 13 November 1884

From 1884-1885, Harbutt gradually withdrew from his Devonport property and sold bits off, as he increasingly made Mt  Albert his home.

NZ Map 4497-6, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Libraries

Auckland Star 13 November 1886

Things weren't easy for Harbutt from the late 1870s, as the Long Depression began to bite, however. As seen above, there were rumours early in the piece that he might have packed up his business altogether and left, due to circumstances. In 1886, he appealed to the City Council against rates demands he had some difficulty meeting due to cashflow problems (AS 15.1.1886). Later that year, things came to a head, and he let some of the leases go which he had built up around the city.

Still, what was the product contribution made by the 16-year-old Sydney, Thomas' son, to the Sunday School Industrial Exhibition of 1886? I think you would have guessed -- brooms. (AS 23.11.1886)

Auckland Star 27 February 1889

In 1888, Thomas Harbutt moved back to the city, and the following year set up the Kapai Corn Broom Company -- a firm which was to last into the middle of the 20th century, well past the founder's lifetime.

Auckland Star 22 October 1890

Kapai Corn Broom Company shed near graving dock, as seen from bottom of Hobson Street, early 1890s. Ref. 4-585, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Libraries

The Kapai Corn Broom Company, Ltd. (Thomas J. Harbutt, managing director), Manufacturers of Corn Brooms, Bass Brooms, House Bellows, etc., corner Victoria Street East and Coburg Street, Auckland. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. It is now nearly a quarter of a century since Mr. Harbutt concluded that the manufacture of corn brooms (known as ordinary American brooms) should be undertaken in this Colony, in order that the people might save the excessive freight on the imported article, and that the wages of those engaged in the manufacture might be paid and retained in the Colony instead of being, so to speak, sent away to America. In order that no loss might arise from want of knowledge of the industry, Mr. Harbutt sent one of his sons (Mr Lawrence Harbutt) to San Francisco to thoroughly learn the trade in all its branches.

This done, Mr. Harbutt set his inventive genius to work on improvements which seemed to him to be necessary, and he produces brooms of a quality which cannot be equalled by any over-sea importations. Indeed, considering the superiority of Mr. Harbutt's brooms over the imported corn brooms it is surprising that any of the latter should still come to the Colony. The output of the Kapai Corn Broom Company amounts to about 100,000 brooms per annum, and the turnover would be doubled if this first-rate local article were bought by the public. Mr. Harbutt was awarded the silver medal at the Wellington Exhibition of 1885, and a bronze medal at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, London, in the following year, and these honours prove the excellence of his goods. Many other articles are manufactured by the Kapai Corn Broom Company, but only a few can be mentioned here, such as the spiral chimney sweeper, a long-handled cobweb sweeper, a long-handled scrubber for verandahs, dairies, etc., and the ordinary house bellows. All these and many others were recently exhibited at the Auckland Exhibition, where they deservedly gained first prizes. At present the raw material is imported, but it is Mr. Harbutt's opinion that at least a thousand acres of good land might be profitably set aside for the growth of the corn required by his factory alone. 

Assuredly the Kapai Corn Broom Company should be encouraged by all who wish well to the Colony, as only those who have watched the growth of the industry can form an idea of the energy and perseverance exerted by Mr. Harbutt and his sons in bringing it to its present state of thorough-going efficiency.

From Cyclopedia of New Zealand, Vol 2, 1902

From 1889, Thomas Harbutt started making moves to have broom corn grown not just in Australia, but here as well.

Mr Harbutt, the well-known corn broom manufacturer of Victoria-street east, purposes bringing three of his sons from America to take up land at Te Puke or the Victoria Valley for the purpose of growing corn for the manufacture of brooms. At present Mr Harbutt has to import his broom corn from America, when the article might be produced locally. 

AS 22.4.1889 

PLOUGHING. 
Then, he may have considered that, as he had so many acres at Mt Albert, scoria dotted but still arable, he might give it a bit of a go there -- just to show the New Zealanders it was possible.

Tenders wanted for Ploughing about 10 to 15 acres Land at Mount Albert—Apply T. J. Harbutt, Corn Broom Factory, Victoria-street: or, at his residence. Mount Albert, before 9 a.m. 

AS 24.8.1889 

As a trial crop, Harbutt's Mt Albert broom corn turned out to be a success, despite some recollections handed down from descendants of the adjoining Woodward family that it failed. It certainly convinced Te Puke farmers that it was worthwhile to take part.

T. J. Harbutt, of the Kapai Broom Factory, Auckland, went to Te Puke last Friday week to ascertain the capabilities or that district for growing broom corn, of which his celebrated brooms are composed. He returned to Tauranga last Friday, and tells the local paper that Te Puke is extremely well adapted for growing this crop. He endeavoured to induce the settlers there to take up the culture, which many of them promised to do. Mr J C. Galbraith has agreed to assist in this direction. Mr Harbutt will therefore send some choice broom corn seed, brought from America by his son. Mr Harbutt recommends that settlers sow only a few acres as an experiment, and that the sowing should be in October or November. Enough seed to sow 40 acres will be sent to Te Puke, and along with it will be sent a corn broom planter, which puts in two rows at a time. 

AS 21.9.1889 

Corn Broom.—This industry is gradually making its way, several consignments of brooms having been sent South lately, and two during the past week. There is every possibility of this industry being still further developed, as a member of an American firm who has been on a visit to this city was so impressed with the prospects of the Corn Broom Manufactory that he has entered into arrangements to join the firm, and proposes introducing steam machines to make and sew the brooms. The millet itself is also to be grown here, two sons of Mr Harbutt having taken up a block of land at Te Puke and the land is now being prepared for the crop. That millet will succeed here was proved by a patch of 10 acres previously grown by Mr Harbutt at Mount Albert. 

AS 16.7.1891 

Auckland Star 4 August 1900

By September 1900, "Harbutt's Plasticine, billed as "the new modelling material for artists, schools, and home amusement: The Child's Delights", was available for sale at that most fashionable of retail outlets, Smith & Caughey's. (AS 11.9.1900)


Thomas Harbutt died in 1903.

Mr Thomas J. Harbutt, who died at his residence, at Mount Albert, yesterday afternoon, was a native of North Shields, where his earlier business experience as an ironmonger was gained. He came to Auckland about 28 years ago from Jersey, and introduced the broom manufacturing industry into this part of the country, establishing the Kapai Corn Broom Company, of which he was manager till his death. He was 73 years of age, and he had done service as member of different local bodies, such as the City North Licensing Committee, Mount Albert Road Board, and Mount Albert School Committee, besides which he was for many years honorary choir master of the Beresford-street Congregational Church. His death was accelerated by a fall from a trap he sustained some weeks ago, He leaves a widow, fourteen children and five grandchildren. His third son is secretary to the Auckland Liedertafel and six of the elder members of the family are in Australia. 

 AS 28.8.1903 

He also served on the board for Pt Chevalier School as well. (AS 19.5.1892)

"Mrs Harbutt", photograph by Herman J Schmidt, 1912, ref 31-69474, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Libraries

The image above from the Sir George Grey Special Collections is that of his T J Harbutt's widow Annabelle, who remained at Mt Albert, living at the corner of New North and Woodward Roads, until her own death in June 1928. For a total of 44 years, therefore, she was a part of the community at Mt Albert, often taking part in activities at the local Methodist churches. A man included in another photograph in the series resembles her son, Sydney.

Detail from DP 15058, LINZ records, crown copyright

The Harbutt's home appears to be the wooden house indicated here, in a 1921 survey plan organised by her son, Sydney Jefcoate Harbutt (1870-1956).

 Aerial from Auckland Council website, 1940

 It is possible that the large building in the above aerial from 1940 is the same one, shifted back towards the railway line, possibly to make room for the later retail premises which dominate the corner (once known as Harbutt's Corner) today.

Aerial from Auckland Council website, 2008

Hopefully, the Mt Albert Historical Society will be able to explore the possibility further, and see if it is correct. If it it -- this would mean the house is one of the oldest in Mt Albert, that although shifted is still on its original land, and is associated with a family with connections both to the local heritage of Mt Albert, but also significantly Auckland's commercial and industrial history.

Photo taken 26 April 2012

Detail, DP 18277, LINZ records, crown copyright

As far as the streets are concerned:

Harbutt Avenue: (DP 17247, 1932, named possibly by the subdivider, Sydney J Harbutt) Obviously named for the family.

Jersey Avenue: Sydney Harbutt's birthplace, along with five of his siblings. Sydney J Harbutt didn't live in Mt Albert -- he organised the subdivision of his mother's property from Otahuhu.

Newcastle Terrace: Newcastle, a main centre in the Harbutt family's home county of Northumberland. Sydney J Harbutt's grandfather, another Thomas, was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, according to the Rootsweb pages.


Jennings Street: Possibly one of the last subdivisions of the Harbutt Estate. Jennings was Annabelle Harbutt's maiden name.

Detail from Deed 1256, LINZ records, crown copyright

Also, even a bit of Avondale history is involved with this: in 1922, Annabelle Harbutt transferred (NA 31/176) part of the Oakleigh farm area to the Avondale Borough Council for use as a quarry (top of detail above). Another quarry site was in operation immediately below that as at 1924, apparently used by private contractors. These two quarries, plus a small part of the Woodward farm above at Allotment 60, and a strip of land fronting the Kaipara railway below, came under railway proclamation in the late 1940s.

Detail from DP 40792, LINZ records, crown copyright

Right through to the late 1980s, this area was earmarked as part of a proposed rail line linking the Rosebank Peninsula industrial area with the main Western rail line, to ease transport of goods and raw material from the peninsula to the rest of the region and the country. The rail line would have passed through what is now Harbutt Reserve, Phyllis Reserve, across Oakley Creek to Heron Park, then out along the north-eastern edge of the peninsula, through reclamations which also never came to be.

Aerial from Auckland Council website, 2008

Instead, today, we have the above named reserves -- starting with this one, Harbutt Reserve, mostly likely named because the main access is from Harbutt Avenue.

It would be nice to have a sign here about the origins of the name, the family, and the brooms.

Street Stories 21: Woodward Road, the Springleigh Estate … and the other Mr Woodward

 Detail from DP 16277, LINZ records, crown copyright

The road predated its naming by at least 25 years. On a scrappy remnant of a survey plan dating from the late 1840s to early 1850s (SO 833) the end of the line of the road, where it juts off from what we know today as Carrington Road, can be seen. It swung past Allotment 60, described as “Excellent volcanic soil on scoria”, 84½ acres of prime farmland on the Mt Albert West aquifer leading towards the springs which come up even today on the farm which used to be where the lunatic asylum patients were (hopefully) made well, just to the north. But the first major landowners there on Woodward Road to begin with were not named Woodward. 

Perhaps the paper road had no documented name, only local ones now lost to time, in those first years after the government survey. Anyway ... the first owner of Allotment 60 was a woman who didn’t live there. 

Margaret Adam came to New Zealand in 1841 on the barque Brilliant, her and her husband James one of those couples convinced by the New Zealand Manukau and Waitemata Company that a wonderful city of Cornwallis was ready and waiting for energetic young immigrants from Scotland, like themselves. The project is now infamous for its lack of forethought, and many of the settlers traded in their largely worthless “titles” for land elsewhere on the Auckland isthmus. But before that could happen for James and Margaret, James was drowned in an accident, which also claimed the life of Captain William Cornwallis Symonds and a Mr McAlpine. Widowed, Margaret was still offered two pieces of land at Mt Albert by Governor FitzRoy in September 1845: Allotment 60, and Allotment 54, the western slopes below the extinct volcano in the area also named Mt Albert. In her will after her death (the will was registered at the Land Office in October 1853 -- deeds indexes), she requested that her brother-in-law, John Shedden Adam (his story is related in my post on Banwell in Avondale), administer the two properties for the estate. 

J S Adam was, by this time, a draughtsman and architect living in Australia, never to return, so there’s no real telling who lived there on the farm fronting the side road from the 1840s right through to the early 1870s. Mt Albert Road Board records (available at Auckland Council Archives, series MAC 104), starting from 1867, show J S Adam as both owner and occupier until Mark Woodward purchased the site in 1874 (NA 8/177) . 

The belief by some descendants that Mark Woodward obtained the property from John Logan Campbell (as published by the Mt Albert Historical Society in their newsletter dated Oct/Nov 2008) cannot be proved by documentation, but may be possible. In June 1873, auctioneers Samuel Cochrane & Co were instructed to sell the two Adam Estate farms, Lot 54 and Lot 60. (Auckland Star 5 June 1873) These sold on 9 June, Lot 60 to Mark Woodward for approx £718 (84.5 acres, at £8 10s per acre). Lot 54 went to Henry Lees – but his title (NA 8/86) shows the previous owner as John Logan Campbell: from June 1874, a year after the auction. It sounds like the auction came first, perhaps after Campbell had offered J S Adam’s agents in New Zealand a price for both farms – then arrangements were made for a retroactive title later. Campbell did, however, brief hold title to Margaret Adam’s other major Mt Albert property at Allotment 54 – for a month, also in 1874 (NA 8/86). 

But Mark Woodward was not the first of that family name to be in the area. 

James Woodward's story

In March 1860 the Lord Burleigh arrived, with James and Sarah A Woodward on open steerage. (Southern Cross 10 February). By October 1864, James Woodward had a paddock at Mt Albert. (Southern Cross 11 October). In December that year, Lewis Sayers broke into the Woodward residence at Mt Albert and stole : “three white petticoats, three night-dresses, one chemise, three shirts, two tweed coats, one serge coat and vest, one pair cord trousers, and one mat.” (Southern Cross 3 December) The Mt Albert rates books start only at 1868 for Woodwards in the area, and show someone by that name living in a house on part of Allotment 55, Parish of Titirangi. 

This is slightly odd, as Allotment 55 was the legal description for the mountain and quarries leased out by the Provincial Government from 1862 (SO 927 & 1148, LINZ records). This was divided into smaller allotments at the time of the leases though, one of which was Allotment 99, leased to William Bray in 1862, and definitely linked to Mark Woodward from 1871. Even so, Mark Woodward seems to have been quiet with what he did. January 1870 is when we see the first reference found to Mark Woodward at Mt Albert, when he reports finding a lost steer in his paddock. (Southern Cross, 27 January) So, if Mark Woodward had his paddocks on the northern side of Mt Albert, where was James located? At this point, it is anyone’s guess. Could it have been that he was leasing use of the farm at Woodward Road?

October 1865 – James Woodward apparently had been given nominal ownership for a 40 acre grant at Waitakerei East, worth £3 in rates. He argued in court against the rates demand, saying he had no title to the land; he had never been on it; he had never even seen it.” The case against him was dismissed. (Southern Cross 30 October) In January 1866 – he appears as a groom for the mare Sally Brass at “Edgcumbe’s farm, Mount Albert”. (Southern Cross 20 January) June 1866 – James Woodward is accused of assaulting George Bray. (Southern Cross 19 June 1866) See also The Lively Brays of Mt Albert. 

By 1868, at least, I suspect that James and Sarah Ann Woodward lived somewhere close to William Edgcumbe’s Great Northern Hotel, at Western Springs. In July 1868, a scuffle between James and Sarah Woodward, and an old woman named Mary Cameron at Edgecumbe’s Great Northern Hotel ended up in the courts. The case was dropped, but the judge warned all parties against such behaviour in future. (Southern Cross 3 August) In October 1871, he was appointed ranger for the Mt Albert district. (Southern Cross, 4 October) He appears to now be living “in the neighbourhood of Edgcumbe’s Hotel”, described as “at the Whau”. (Auckland Star 31 October 1870; 17 May 1871) He doesn’t appear, however, on a list of Whau ratepayers for 1875. 

November 1876. 

Mr J. Woodward, of the Whau, was driving a spring cart this afternoon, and as he backed towards Arthur's auction mart he came violently against the large cast-iron verandah post, smashing it in several pieces. It fortunately fell on the pathway or it may have done serious injury to a lady who was in the van at the time; she narrowly escaped. The post may cost several pounds to replace, but it is all for the good of trade, and the distribution of cash, although Mr Woodward has to pay the piper. 

Auckland Star 10 November 1876

Wherever he lived, he and his wife had some extra money for investments, such as Sarah’s 250 shares in the Karaka Goldmining Company. (Southern Cross 24 August 1869) and his own 15 shares in the Coromandel Excelsior Goldmining Company. (Southern Cross 12 January 1872) In April 1883, James Woodward was appointed to the Newton Licensing Committee (including Pt Chevalier, Western Springs and Grey Lynn), along with Thomas Faulder, Robert Garrett, James Crawford and Charles Frederick Partington. (Auckland Star 12 April 1883) But soon after this, things turned sour. 

Around 1880, James Woodward was apparently kicked in the head by a horse, along with suffering a bad cold and coming down with "rheumatics". He was never quite right after that, accused by his wife’s lodger George Elton later of “eating, sleeping, drinking, and riding his horse about the country,” “hardly ever sober”. (This would have made him an intriguing choice to be sitting on a Licensing Committee at the same time, I would have thought). On 12 August 1884, Sarah Ann Woodward obtained a protection order against her husband, and in July-August 1885, Woodward was admitted then discharged from the Auckland Lunatic Asylum, (Index cards, Archives NZ) and then was admitted to the Old Men’s Refuge. 

Why, after such a seemingly successful farming career, topped by investments and land ownership, had this happened? Well, according to Woodward himself, “Sarah Ann Woodward was his wife, and for a number of years he carried on the business of cattle, poultry, and pig-dealer, and accumulated from £500 to £600. He always gave his earnings to his wife, and she, with his knowledge, placed the money in the Savings Bank in her own name. He was the real owner of all the furniture and effects, which were purchased with his earnings … He was not aware that his wife had obtained a protection order. He went on one occasion to see his wife, when she told him he must not come there or he would be murdered. His wife's first cousin, a Mr Elton, was living in the house as a lodger. He believed he paid for his board and lodging … He made his will in accordance with his wife's wish, and made over all his property to her. He thought if anything happened to him his brother in Sydney might come over and take it. He was surprised to hear that his wife had purchased property in her own name, as the deeds would show, and that she afterwards conveyed it to Elton. He demurred, but she altogether ignored him, and said she would never live with him again. He had always supported her when he was able to do so, but for the last five or six years he had been in ill-health. Mrs Woodward must have made a false declaration in stating that there was no cause for his neglecting to support her.” (Auckland Star 18 December 1885) 

“At times Mrs Woodward had been compelled to provide him drink under threats. He had never seen Mr Woodward do any work, although he appeared quite able. Mrs Woodward seemed to maintain the house. Her husband continually abused her for not getting him drink. He had seen Mr Woodward attempt to strike his wife many a hundred times.” (Auckland Star 19 December 1885) 

The judge refused to lift the protection order, but cryptically stated “…that had the same evidence been adduced when the application for the order was made, it might not have been granted.” (Auckland Star 19 December) The situation between James and Sarah Ann meant that he was destitute, while she was the one with money and assets, something unusual for those times. 

The weekly meeting of the Executive of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Board was opened at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, in the office, Victoria Arcade … A letter was received from the Relieving Officer applying for the necessary legal aid to compel Mrs Jane Woodward (Mount Albert), Mr Robert Houlden (Gisborne), and the brothers Brindle (Howick), to contribute to the maintenance of their destitute relatives, viz., a husband in Mrs Woodward's case and mothers in the other two instances. 

 Auckland Star 24 August 1886

In November 1894 – Sarah Ann Woodward advertised the sale of her property fronting St Marys Lane and Counsel Terrace (today 15 St Marys Lane and 11 Counsel Terrace – Auckland Star 9 November 1894) This had been purchased by her in March 1887 (DI 19A.355). By December 1888, she was letting the house and grounds out to other, and selling her effects. (Auckland Star, 13 December). 

It would appear, though, that her mortgagor Monaghan took over the property in December 1894. 

It is possible that the James Woodward who died 30 January 1892, aged just 58, and who was buried two days later at the Anglican section of Waikumete Cemetery, could be the same man. If so, with poverty, abandoned by his wife in whom he entrusted so much, and with the effects of his head injury, the end was probably a blessing. 

As for Mark Woodward … 

In March, Mark Woodward with his wife (also named Sarah) arrived on board the Liverpool. Like James Woodward, Mark Woodward is associated with a 40 acre land grant in West Auckland, somewhere behind Anawhata. “As their savings had been expended on the trip out, Mark Woodward and his sons went to work for the Gribble family at Cabbage Tree Swamp (Sandringham) milking cows, until they were able to buy their own cows and lease Mt Albert (the mountain).” (Auckland War Memorial Museum Library catalogue info online) Mark Woodward’s name doesn’t come up on the deeds index for Allotment 99 however; (DI 11A.18) – he may have sub-leased it from William Bray and a Mr Webster.

After purchasing his farm at Mt Albert in 1874, he got a £30 per annum contract to deliver mail between Auckland and Henderson’s Mill. (Southern Cross 24 April 1875). Then in May 1878, now a dairy farmer, he led two of his neighbours in a campaign against the Gittos tannery for polluting the Oakley Creek. (Auckland Star 11 May 1878) Accusations flew, including that a bottle of water taken to the Mt Albert Road Board as proof smelled, according to Mr McElwain, of “cow dung”, indicating pollution possibly upstream of the tannery, just as much as from the chemicals poured into the stream below. However, independent tests made upstream disproved this. (Auckland Star, 17 May 1878) At the same time, however, accusations were made that Mark Woodward was depositing night soil on his farm. (Auckland Star 13 May) Woodward finally took the Gittos family to court for an injunction in 1883. (Auckland Star 17 September) For more, see The Leather Makers. 

In May 1885 he ran for a seat on the Mt Albert Road Board – and finished second to last out of seven candidates. (Auckland Star 8 May 1885) 

There is a reference to Woodward’s Road, Waitakerei East, (Auckland Star 27 February 1886 ) and Woodward’s Creek (near Henderson Valley) by October that year. (Auckland Star 9 October). By the following year, Woodward’s Road known as Piha Road. (Auckland Star 8 October) 

November 1887. 

Mark Woodward was charged at the Police Court to-day with attempting to drive a horse and trap over a railway crossing at Mount Albert when the engine was approaching and within a quarter of a mile. Mr Theo. Cooper appeared tor the prosecution, and Mr Button for the defence. It appeared that the defendant's cart collided with the railway train, and his horse narrowly escaped serious injury. The defence was that the act was not done knowingly or wilfully. Evidence was given by the guard and engine-driver that the whistle was blown shortly before the crossing was reached, and by four other witnesses, who stated that it was impossible to see the train approaching until it was right on the crossing. His Worship found the offence proved. The defendant had shown a certain amount of negligence, and the small fine of £1 and costs, £5 4s, was inflicted. 

 Auckland Star 2 November 1887

In July 1888, he advertised for a builder to construct seven chains of stone wall at Mt Albert (Auckland Star 14 July), and later that year took his neighbour W J Hill to court over the dumping of night soil on Hill’s farm. (Auckland Star 13 November) 

On 8 November 1894, Mark Woodward died, aged 60, at his Mt Albert home. (Auckland Star, 9 November 1894) 

His property was inherited by his sons Henry William, Frederick, Andrew and Frank. Henry William died 22 December 1895, but the remaining sons held on to the property until 1922 when they sold it, apart from three lots they set aside for themselves, to builder Albert Beazley of Auckland (1870-1944) and Raetihi sawmiller John Francis Punch (1865-1940). (NA 8/177) 

Beazley & Punch are also known for being the directors of Ambassador Picture Theatre Ltd, the builders of Pt Chevalier’s Ambassador Theatre (1929), and a block of shops from 895-899 New North Road, Mt Albert, also in the 1920s.

As for the streets in the Springleigh estate: 

Woodward Road – not really part of the estate, but the main road frontage. I don’t think there is much doubt that the road had come, by the time of Mark Woodward’s death, to be identified with him. 

Mark Road – Appears on DP 17190, part of the Beazley-Punch subdivision, November 1923. A large building which appears on an earlier plan (DP 16277), identified by Sir Harold Marshal, a descendant, as a large barn, seems to have been obliterated by the line of Mark Road. 

Rhodes Avenue (DP 17576, 1923) – as the mayor of Mt Albert Borough at the time was Leonard E Rhodes, who signed approval of this part of the subdivision on behalf of the council, I think it’s a good guess that this was an “impress the Mayor” thing by Beazley & Punch. There’s a similar development in Avondale, where William John Tait was so immortalised, also while both alive, and a serving mayor in office. 

Raetihi Crescent (DP 17576, 1923) – As John Punch lived in Raetihi, I think that goes towards explaining that street name. 

Phyllis Street (DP 17631, 1924) – could be named after a relative of either Beazley or Punch. One thing about the Phyllis Street Reserve was that it was the Mt Albert Quarry, then the local municipal rubbish tip, before being reclaimed as the park it now is. All this, on the land formerly owned by the man who disliked pollution from a tannery and night soil depositing. 

Laurel Street (DP 20883, 1927) – again, could be named for a member of either the Beazley or Punch families. Or, just a tree name. 

Renton Road (DP 21670, 1927) – a place name, perhaps? Hopefully, more information may come to hand in the future.

Preserving a message in a cemetery

This is the result of a small SLIPs (small local improvement project) application to have an interpretive sign placed beside the earliest grave at St Ninian's Cemetery in Avondale, that of Rev David Hamilton from 1873.

The Whau Local Board approved the project, which involved the inclusion of the words that are carved on the stone faces of the obelisk on the sign. Time and weather are eroding the stone, rendering most of the wording unreadable. The Avondale-Waterview Historical Society, at the suggestion of member Peter Blaiklock waited for the right opportunity to ask for such a sign for around three years. When St Ninians was opened up again, and the cemetery cleared of most of the overgrowth, I put in the application on behalf of the Society. The sign was installed in late November this year. (The photo on the sign is mine.)

“Rev. David Hamilton B.A., Clergyman of the parish, who after a pastorate of 15 months, died from exposure in the Manukau Forest, in the month of July 1873, a. 29. ‘To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’ The above words, which aptly describe his career, are those from which he last preached the gospel to his people. He left his home on 9th July for Huia, to conduct Divine service, and proceeded on the 10th for Manukau Heads, but missed his way in the darkness. His body was found on the 20th and interred here on 23 July 1873.

“Erected by his parishioners and friends, in affectionate remembrance of his goodness as a man and his devotedness as a Christian minister.”

My thanks to the Auckland Council SLIPs team, and the Whau Local Board for seeing this to fruition. Now, future generations have a chance to see what those who held Rev Hamilton in such high regard had to say from so long ago.

Timbers Fortune -- the rough notes

Like so many other interests I let myself get involved in, the story of Henderson's origins in the 19th century just hasn't come to full fruition. Yet. But -- I like to share what I find (which is why Timespanner is here). So -- here, on Scribd, is the result of two years of going utterly bonkers gathering up information on Henderson's roots. This, though, is not all of it, and I'll be adding to and updating the notes on a regular basis. Besides, as with any research project on West Auckland's story, more always comes along as the years go by ...

If anyone wants the digital file sent via email, just drop me a line.

Aramoho Zoo - updated

Animals at J J Boyd's Aramoho Zoo, Wanganui. Weekly News, 27 July 1911, ref. AWNS-19110727-11-1, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Libraries

I've updated and revised the Aramoho Zoo chapter from The Zoo War, adjusting a typo a reader spotted, and adding additional information from the Wanganui Chronicle on the zoo. You'll find the update here on Scribd.

A farewell to the Aotea Chapel

In early February this year, when I heard the former Aotea Chapel was going to be demolished on Queen Street, I took the following shots. These date from 8 February.

Next door, the 1950s MLC Building, now recently renovated as a hotel, is probably what could be described as faux Art Deco, if the true period pretty well dwindled out during World War II. This was definitely after that period (built by Fletcher Construction).

Still -- it's a great part of the streetscape.

But, across the stub of Airedale Street from the MLC, said stub left by the formation of Mayoral Drive just above in the 1970s, the Methodist Central Mission Chapel, once the Aotea Chapel, was doomed.

 Reference 4-1923, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Libraries

Looking up Airedale Street on 22 January 1928, you'd see a completely different streetscape. Where the MLC Building is today (right) was Richard Arthur's auction house, while across the way, to the left, site of the chapel -- Armitage's store for ladies' and children's wear. This was Probert's Chambers -- while the Methodist Church can be seen just up Airedale Street on the left. 

The church was the first Primitive Methodist Church in Auckland, opened 16 March 1851. "The kauri structure," according to Rev Wesley Parker, author of In the midst of the city: Methodist Central Mission, Auckland Civic Square (1971), "measuring 35 feet by 25 feet, was built for £130 15s. This was the lowest of eight prices tendered in reply to advertisements 'in both papers'. The successful tenderer was Walter Robertson. The land had been given by the Government, for Sir George Grey was fully sympathetic towards the work of the Churches."

Primitive Methodism joined the other branches and ceased to be separate in 1913 as the Union of Methodist Churches. One of the well-known personalities associated with the Airedale Street church in the 20th century was Colin Graham Scrimgeour, still famous in New Zealand's history for his "Man in the Street" broadcast in 1935 being deliberately jammed by the Coalition Government before the election of that year which saw victory for the Labour party opposition and Michael Joseph Savage. His radio devotional services began in 1931, while he was still in charge at the Airedale Street church.

His successor, Rev Albert Everill Orr, started the process towards the creation of an Auckland Central Mission. When he took over, he found "a mere handful of faithful supporters, together with large debts, a decrepit church building, and a parsonage alongside with a great flight of wooden steps leading to it, all strangely out of character in the heart of a city now boasting a population of 200,000." (Parker, p. 33) He changed the name of the Airedale Street Church to Auckland Central Mission, and saw the start of the Central Building Fund for a new church. Over the course of the next three decades, buildings on the total site bounded by Airedale, Queen and Wakefield Streets were purchased, tenancies extinguished, and then structures demolished to make way for the new Central Mission, along with the old kauri church from 1851. A model of the proposed development was prepared in 1960, involving a church and multi-storey Mission facilities next door. Fletcher Construction built both, and the new Auckland Central Mission was opened by Prime Minister Keith Holyoake on 7 February 1964.

Cover to Rev Parker's book. The chapel building is seen in the centre.

"In 1969," according to Rev Parker, "a large stained-glass window was installed in the gallery of the church facing Queen Street. The Saviour is depicted with His face toward the world and His hands open in wide gesture, signifying His invitation 'Come unto Me.' At night the window is brightly illuminated."

In 1992, the Mission Chapel was redeveloped. Whether it became the Aotea Chapel at that point, I'm not sure -- but it certainly bore the name on the frontage from that time. There is still a webpage up which shows images of the Aotea Chapel in its heyday. I don't know how long that page will remain -- if you are reading this and the link doesn't work, well ... it's gone the way of the chapel itself.

Several hundred packed the chapel for Christmas celebrations in 2000. A public meeting over the future of Auckland's Hero Parade was held there in November 2001. A meeting to mark the 20th anniversary of the Labour government of David Lange, with emphasis on our country's nuclear-free policy, was held there in July 2004. A mayoral debate between John Banks and Dick Hubbard was held there in 2007.

But in July 2008, the site was sold.  The sale price was confidential, but the value on the property was put at $25M.

Methodist Mission Northern executive director John Murray said it had been a difficult choice, given that the site had strong sentimental value, but he believed it existed to support the mission's services and generate income. "We certainly got the price that we wanted and he was prepared to pay. We are well pleased," he said. 

Mr Murray said last year that the mission gave the issue "heart-searching" thought, but decided that it could not afford to upgrade the buildings to modern standards.It will use the proceeds from the sale to extend its social services beyond the core group of homeless men who are the main users of the existing soup kitchen."We can deal with issues relating to youth and women," he said. Mr Murray said the mission's lease would expire on July 31, 2010. 

 

The barest of remains of where the Aotea Chapel neon once shone red into the night.

And so, to demolition. I think it started in early December. I remember seeing just the outer shell of the building remaining as I passed by in a bus. Best views of the end of 160 years of Methodist gatherings and community voices on the site, however, are from the Town Hall. Quite a few of us on the 15 December tour, when the following shots were taken, paused at the windows, hearing with our ears about heritage preservation and conservation, a success story for the Auckland Town Hall -- only to look out at the machinery of change across the street.

And above -- is what will replace the chapel: another retail block, Queens Court. They may even sell clothing there, although most likely boutique style.

Some of the tradition of Mr Armitage from back in the 1920s, therefore, looks set to return.