Former Lodge Titirangi Hall, Rosebank Road

Today, it is a Korean church. But, up to 2001, it was the base for Lodge Titirangi No. 204, which now meets in Burch Street, Mt Albert.

 1950s. From Avondale-Waterview Historical Society collection.

The former hall for Lodge Titirangi No. 204 at 69 Rosebank Road was once part of a three-quarter acre section purchased in the sale of the Robert Chisholm Estate by a settler in Avondale, John Boyd. He also owned land on Rosebank for a time, up until 1892 (see the story of the Best Varnish Works). He sold the corner site, Great North Road and Rosebank Road, to Avondale baker Thomas Gourlay Grubb and his wife Rebecca in 1894. It's possible Grubb had already set up his business in a wooden store, at the corner with a stable at the rear (the site of today’s hall). The couple sold the property on mortgage to their son-in-law, another baker named Robert Samuel Kirkpatrick, in 1903.

Kirkpatrick didn’t own the property very long. In 1905, he sold it to grain merchants Frederick William and Joseph Robinson Smith. Frederick William Smith appears in the Wises Directory for 1905, having a grain merchants business in Commerce Street in the city. He was to own the entire corner site through to 1909.

In that year, baker Daniel Robertson bought the whole property, and utilised the stables at the Rosebank Road frontage. He in turn sold the property to an agent named Edward Austin Whittaker in 1916. It appears that Whittaker originally came from Hawera, operating an auctioneer’s business there c.1905. In Auckland, he ran a land agency business with his father until at least the mid 1920s.

What ensued then was a tangle of mortgages and sub-mortgages; one of which, a mortgage taken out by Robertson back in 1912, defaulted and led to the sale of the property on 13 May 1919 to the Thode brothers.

On 22 May 1919, the Thodes sold the stables to Charles Theodore Pooley, Henry Potter, William Richard Thom Leighton and Alfred Morgan, the first trustees for “Titirangi Lodge No 204 of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of New Zealand”. Why the words “Lodge Titirangi” were transposed is anyone’s guess. Unfortunately, it meant that in common reference around Avondale as I grew up, we would call the building the Titirangi Lodge.

The Lodge itself originated from attempts over the course of eighteen months from 1913 to 1915, according to Lodge historian, Roger Hughes. Joseph Crisp, who lived on Station Road (Blockhouse Bay Road today, between the railway line and Great North Road) worked at gathering enough interest, followed by Walter Francis Brooke-Taylor, a New Lynn resident. He succeeded in gathering in 24 brethren from Avondale and New Lynn, six preliminary meetings held chaired by William Neilson Ingram, with Brooke-Taylor as secretary. In 1915, the petition to the Grand Lodge was signed, with Ingram as Lodge Titirangi No. 204’s first Grand Master.

The Thodes were most likely operating from what became known as “Thodes’ Corner” from c.1916. In February 1918, it must have appeared likely that they’d be in a position to have title at some point. A handwritten promise was made out to the Lodge on 20 February 1918:

“We, the undersigned, agree in the event of our purchasing the block of land on the corner facing Great North Road, and Rosebank Road, Avondale, to sell to Lodge Titirangi, No. 204, for the sum of £375 the built premises now occupied as a stable and the shed occupied by Mr Martin as a coal yard, and including the section on which the above premises stand to the live hedge at the rear.”

So, the Lodge Hall was probably built 1919-1920.

A rare photo of the Lodge from possibly the 1920s, from the Rosebank Road frontage. The brick building hasn't been plastered yet, and the Spanish tiled parapet hasn't been added above the door. The corrugated iron building appears to have been the old horse stable. From Avondale Historical Journal  No. 14, November-December 2003. Photo from Barry Thomas.

The next change to the trustees of the Lodge’s title came in 1941. Now they were: Henry Potter, Charles Pooley, Walter Francis Brooke-Taylor, Robert Ward and Colin Albert Crum. In 1951, Pooley was replaced by John Lupton. The next change was the final one, as the Lodge made plans to sell the hall in 2001: Donald William John Brownlee, John Oldham Currie, Thomas Ure Fraser, Alan Charles Gini, and Mervyn John Nichols.

At some point, the stable to the east of the hall (a coal dealer's business in 1940) was replaced in what appears to be brick, judging by the 1950s image, and was demolished in the latter part of the 20th century. Today the site is part of a carpark. The Spanish tiled portion of the hall looks a bit odd these days now, jutting out on its own.

In 2002. the hall was purchased by the Sung Rak Church Charitable Trust, transformed into the Auckland Sung Rak Church, and all exterior signs of the previous Masonic ownership were erased.

 

As for the story of the old wooden store at the corner – the Thode brothers leased the store to grocer Edward Civil in 1919, who in turn transferred his lease to Norman McKenzie in 1920 (the store then became known as McKenzies for the first part of the 1920s until the fire in 1925). The Thode brothers meanwhile sold the property to another set of brothers, the Fearons (Charles Edgar and Leonard Roger) back in 1920. When the fire razed the old store, the Fearons built the present day Fearon's Buildings.

St Ninians returns to the community

On 5 February 2011, the Avondale-Waterview Historical Society held its first meeting for the year at St Ninians. We were the first community group to use the building since it was closed in 2007. Restoration work began in October 2010, and only finished 1 February this year.

The sign (which I suggested) was installed on the fence just this week.

Longwhitekid blog

The Longwhitekid blog belongs to Darian Zam, who commented today at the Fullers Sign and Myers Park posts. There can never, ever be too many Kiwiana/nostalgia blogs, I say. Another one for the blogroll on the side.

Rosebank School turns 50

 Updated: 19 February 2011

On 1 February, Rosebank School in Avondale (there's at least another in New Zealand, at Balclutha) inaugurated a year of celebration for their 50th anniversary. The school opened in  February, 1961, after being in the planning stages since the late 1950s.

I have a bit of a soft spot for Rosebank School, even though I actually attended Avondale Primary -- in part because Rosebank incorporate our district's heritage in their school shield: the rose for Rosebank, but even more cool, the Sandford-Miller bi-plane at the bottom. Recently, a class there went in for one of those Fair Go competitions for schools, and I was invited to sit in a room with the children involved with the project, bombarded with questions about Avondale's past, and what neat places there are to film here for their project. That was one of the most delightful afternoons I've experienced.

To cut the cake, the school had arranged two very special guests: Hone Harawira, MP (who attended Rosebank School when it opened in 1961), and Rosalina Kennach, who had a "first day at school" experience on Tuesday that I would lay odds few children would have this year! The centre of attention, she did remarkably well. Her uncle, Paul Hunter (also chairman of the school's jubilee committee), kept a close watch.

One of the school's murals on the grounds. If you look carefully, just between the two planes and a bit below, you'll see the school included on the Auckland landscape.

The school sits on part of Robert Chisholm's vast 19th century estate on the Rosebank Peninsula. In 1882, a farm of just over 20 acres was purchased by merchants Levi Coupland and George Harper. Two years later, they set up a tenants-in-common arrangement with Charles Henry Emmett and George Pearce Canning Wilkins. Emmett and Wilkins had their own titles for their half-share of the property. In 1889, Isaac and Elizabeth Ann Wymer purchased just over 13 acres of the farm. Some information on the Wymers, luckily enough, can be found here.

"Probably the largest market garden round Auckland is in this district, and Mr Whymer [sic], the owner, on account of his success, has been able to take a trip to the Old Country, where he is now enjoying a well earned rest after his years of toil, and the farming is now carried on by his sons."

Auckland Star, 28 August 1903

In 1904, the Wymers' land was sold to Auckland merchant Ah Chee, and became part of the Ah Chee family's market garden (and rabbit farm) holdings in Avondale. In the 1920s, Ah Chee's sons William and Clement had to let the land go, through the National Bank transferring the mortgage on the property to two firms, Radley and Company, and Turners and Growers Limited. In 1929, under power of sale, these firms transferred the property to the Rosebank Estate Limited. Around 10 acres was purchased by Ernest Ingledew Copsey and Alfred Farmer Copsey, Avondale growers on Rosebank since the late 1890s.

The Copseys' land at this site was taken by the Government for defence purposes in 1944, after initially serving as a market garden conveniently adjacent to the American military hospital constructed close by, the future Avondale College and Intermediate. After the war, the government then set about gazetting areas for housing purposes during the 1950s. One section, to become the school, was gazetted for that purpose in March 1957.

My thanks to Rosebank School for the kind invitation to their cake cutting ceremony. I'll include a link on the blog to the school's website, for those keen to register with the school for the November celebrations, or who have memories of the school to share.

Research into the family of Robert Charles Greenwood

Further to my earlier piece on Robert Charles Greenwood, I received the following email a few days ago, regarding research being done into the Greenwood family. I promised Tom Greenwood to post this up here. If any readers have more information to hand, please let Tom know.

Hi

I have just found your blog on Robert Charles Greenwood – he was my Great great uncle and I have been undertaking genealogical research of him and his family “ The Greenwoods Theatrical and Comedy Company”.

I am now in the process of trying to follow the family members – I think they seem to have all gone to Australia but if you have any more information  I would be very pleased to hear!

Regards

Tom Greenwood

tnandsmg@xnet.co.nz

Living Halls: the Second World War Memorial Community Centres of the First Labour Government

Bill McKay is doing research into the Second World War Memorial Community Centres of the First Labour Government (1935-1949). He'd love to hear from anyone with information about these halls, anywhere in the country. From the introduction to his paper with Fiona Jack (with permission):

Throughout New Zealand, in nearly every city, town, district and settlement there stands a war memorial. Few commemorate the New Zealand Wars of the Nineteenth Century or the Boer War; most memorialise the two global conflicts of the Twentieth. New Zealand, although a nation remote from Europe, was still diligent in its duty to England and Empire and deeply involved in these conflicts. Both World Wars are said to have played a significant role in the development of a sense of national identity here.

Many of these memorials are cenotaphs or statues, some are arched gateways to domains or sports grounds but often one will see a small town or country hall or even a library inscribed with the words War Memorial. Few realise the extent to which these War Memorial buildings were the result of the First Labour Government’s policy to financially support the construction of community centres as official war memorials after the Second World War. And few realise the number erected throughout the nation: over 400 including meeting houses and dining halls on rural marae; a chain of community spaces constructed throughout the land that are a significant legacy of the Second World War and new Government policy.

Contact Bill at b.mckay@auckland.ac.nz, or 09 3737599 ext. 88891.

Connecting Waterview

Just had an email from Bill McKay of the North-Western Community Association, letting me know about the Connecting Waterview site, regarding State Highway 20's Waterview extension and its effects on the local community there.

Another Browns Bay mural

I'd missed this one when I visited Browns Bay a few weeks ago, but whe I told my friends Bill and Barbara Ellis that I had an interest in murals (well as control box art!) for Timespanner, they sent this image through to me. Thanks, Bill and Barbara!

The Piha astronomy plaque

Further to the previous post.

I asked a friend, Arnold Turner, if he wouldn't mind taking some photos of the plaque as it was unveiled yesterday. He was very kind, said yes, and sent the following through today.

Above is Auckland Councillor Sandra Coney, and Professor Miller Goss,  formerly director of the Very Large Array in New Mexico.

These Four Walls at Lopdell House

Genevieve McClean emailed me this afternoon regarding some of the history of Lopdell House in Titirangi. Her team are preparing:

An Historical Show

for these times,

An Experimental and Avant-Garde Work

suitable for the whole family,

and with a particular modern style

that utilizes a theatrical soundscape

including aspects of improvisation!

I'm all for anything which helps people appreciate our history in new and wonderful ways, so -- visit the These Four Walls blog, and keep up to date with their preparations and the dates for the performances.

Leo O'Malley's store

Last week, while I had started my photo-odyssey that day looking for a good shot of the Beresford Square buildings, I noticed again the 75th anniversary posters in the windows of the Leo O'Malley's menswear store on Karangahape Road -- and decided to pop in there to ask if there was any history to share.

Leo O'Malley's reminded me very much of some of the clothing stores we used to have here in Avondale -- Fowlers, Gardners. Places where the shirts were neatly folded on shelves, and the measuring tapes were only just out of sight behind the counters. As with the art gallery later that day, I didn't get any odd looks when I explained that I had a local history blog, and was looking for information to post up. Instead, they hunted up a copy of an article done specially on the store in the trade magazine Apparel (May 2010), and helpfully pointed me in the direction of a surviving piece of old advertising across the road (see below).

Info on John Patrick Leo O'Malley (c.1888-1960) is a bit thin on the ground. I've been able to find his obituary, and some tantalising snippets from Papers Past. He was born in New South Wales, and was educated at the Christian Brothers' school at Lewisham in Sydney. His obit says he came to Auckland about 1911, but it may have been slightly earlier.“Prompter”, of the Observer in April 1909, wasn’t impressed with what seems to have been an early performance by Mr O’Malley, in “Sixes and Sevens”:

Mr Leo O'Malley was not particularly convincing as Jack Warrender. It would be preferable also if he was a little more sparing with the rouge, or whatever he makes his countenance up with. From the dress circle it looked as if be had done the job with a trowel, and what it must have looked like from the orchestra stalls is a problem that is too vast for the mind of man to grapple with. Mr O'Malley's singing was out of tune.

 It looks like he may also have started out working for John Courts Ltd. In October 1909, he approached Auckland City Council on behalf of the John Courts employees regarding tennis courts at Victoria Park (Observer, 2 October 1909). By 1911, he was a traveller for the firm – and ran foul of shop opening regulations.

At the Police Court at Paeroa yesterday, Leo O'Malley was charged with failing to close his business premises at Karangahake on the half-holiday. Mr Porritt, who appeared for defendant, pleaded guilty on his behalf, explaining that defendant, who was a traveller for J Court Ltd, of Auckland, had opened the shop on the Tuesday, and had been under the impression that as he was not open on Monday that he could keep open on the half-holiday on Wednesday. The firm knew nothing about the matter, and did not encourage its travellers to unfairly compete with local business people. Defendant was fined 20s and costs 7s.

Ohinemuri Gazette, 7 April 1911

The Observer’s 1909 opinion of him aside, if that was the same Leo O’Malley – he started signing baritone in radio performances broadcast on Auckland’s 1YA station from around February 1928, and became a solid hit through the 1930s.

In April 1935, he opened a women’s clothing store at 254 Karangahape Road, next to what was once the Norman Ng Building. This is where the earlier shop sign was when I photographed it in 21 January.

Six months later, a men’s clothing store followed, at the Pitt Street – Karangahape Road corner, in the  1904 Pitt Street Buildings. 

 

The ladies’ fashion store was sold in 1945, but the corner business remained and is still there, though under different ownership. Three generations of Leo O’Malleys were to manage the store until 1999, when it was sold to the Eggleton family. David Eggleton had worked there from 1982. The same family also owns Suits on Broadway at Newmarket, which David Eggleton manages, while his brother John is the K’Road store manager as at last year and sister Carol works on the shop floor.

Back to the first Leo O'Malley. From his obituaries in the NZ Herald and Auckland Star (15 and 16 July 1960):

He took a lively interest in amateur dramatics and was an early member of the Auckland Operatic Society and Little Theatre. He was a past president of the Retailers Federation, past rangatira of the Auckland Savage Club, and past president of the Holy Name Society and the Karangahape Businessmen's Association.

The church on Beresford Square

When the Auckland Congregational Church members wanted a new home in which to worship, they went all out to make as much an impression on the neighbourhood as they did to show the strength and durability of their faith in God. The pillars design wasn't the first seen in a Congregational church in New Zealand -- the first one, in Wellington, dated from 1849. The first Auckland congregation dated from 1851, in Pitt Street, then at Shamrock Cottage, corner of  Albert and Victoria Streets, former home of architect Walter Robertson. By 1875, they needed a new home.

THE BERESFORD - STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
We have received from the pastor of this Congregation a circular stating what has been done by the Congregation in the matter of providing a new church to worship in. After occupying the Albert-street church they found it necessary, in consequence of the dilapidated state of the old buildings, and the insufficiency of the accommodation provided therein, to undertake the erection of a new church. After considerable delay and difficulty, a site has been found (in Beresford-street) which is central, commanding, and ample, having a frontage of 100 feet to Union-street, of 236 feet to Beresford-street, and having an approach of 30 feet from Pitt-street.

A portion of the ground, measuring 100 feet square, has been reserved for a Minister's house, to be erected at some future time. East of this a permanent building measuring 57 feet by 25 feet has been erected, for school and other purposes, which is at present used as their place of worship. Next to this the church is being built. The material used is concrete. The dimensions of the building are 87 feet by 45 feet, outside measurement; accommodation is provided for 420 persons on the ground floor; with a front gallery for 100 more; and provision has been made for seating ultimately 700. It is expected that the church will be completed within a few months.

The total cost of the site, hall, and church will be, as per last estimate, £4,200. Of this large amount £3,250, or more than three fourths, have been already provided by the congregation, leaving £950 still to be raised in order to open the building without any encumbrance; and of this amount £300 has been already promised by members of the Building Committee. To enable them to open their new building free from debt, they have made an appeal to the citizens of Auckland for help. The new building will be of a permanent character, and will be an ornament to the city. The congregation have done what they could to open the building free from debt, which may be surmised when it is stated that eleven gentlemen have contributed a sum of £1,128 6s. Captain Daldy, treasurer, has been appointed to receive contributions for the above purpose.

Southern Cross, 2 June 1875

The new church, in 1876, was described in almost loving detail by the Southern Cross reporter.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH BERESFORD STREET
The inaugural services on the completion of the new Congregational Church, Beresford-street, will be held to-morrow, the officiating clergyman being the Rev T. W. Davies. Hitherto the services have been held in a brick building adjacent to the new church [Beresford Hall], but the attendance had long ago outgrown the accommodation which that building was capable of affording, and now that the larger church has been completed, the building formerly occupied will be available as a schoolhouse.

The new church is one of the most suitable and handsome of its kind in the city. The movement for its erection commenced some fifteen months ago, when, upon the recommendation of Mr J C Firth it was decided to use concrete as the material, as was used in building the dwelling-house of Dr. J L Campbell, and that of Mr Firth. The material is formed of six parts of scoria ash and one of Portland cement, mixed to a proper degree of consistency. This material is easily moulded, and, when hardened by exposure to the air becomes as hard as stone, and of great strength and durability. Its surface may be rendered smoother than chiselled stone, and its appearance is superior to any of the ordinary kinds of building stone.

The church was designed by Mr. P. A. Herapath, who adopted a pure Grecian Doric style, which gives an appearance of massive grandeur and solemnity to the structure, keeping with the purposes for which it was designed. Work was commenced about 14 months ago, Messrs Rose Bros being the contractors for the entire building. The foundations are of solid masonry, and the work of erecting the walls has been carefully super intended at every stage, so as to render the experiment as successful as possible. The thickness of the walls— from the foundation to the top of the floor joists — is 2ft , and thence upwards, 16in. The exterior appearance of the facade of the building which faces Beresford-street is striking in the extreme, the six massive fluted columns in front giving a very impressive and classic aspect to the structure.

The site is eminently suitable for devotional purposes, being removed from the noise and bustle of the main thoroughfare while, at the same time, the Church is easily accessible from the more populated parts of the city. The southern end or front of the building consists of a large portico, the floor of which is 21ft. 9in. by 14ft. 10in , flanked by two lobbies, each 14ft. 5in by 9ft , from which access is gained direct to the aisles. The two main entrances are thus completely sheltered from the wind. The interior floor measures 72ft. in length by 42ft. in width, the height of the walls being 25ft. 6in. The appearance of the interior is handsome and effective, without being showy. The architect has succeeded in producing a simple chaste style of ornamentation, exactly in keeping with the classic style of the architecture, and in strict accordance with its devotional purposes. The ceiling is composed of coffered panelling, the moulding being ornamented with gilding. The walls are relieved by ten blue pilasters running half-way up the walls, and set off by white vases; these pilasters being utilised as air shafts, to prevent draughts and assist the ventilation. The ceiling is further ornamented by three large ventilators, from which depend handsome gilded star-chandaliers. The interior is also well lighted in the day time by six large windows on each side.

The minister's platform is at the north end of the building, which is slightly indented, a design which favours the acoustic properties of this part of the Church, and renders the minister easily audible to the congregation at the furthest end of the building. The platform is tastefully ornamented with railings and red hangings, the short flight of steps on each side being carpeted. At the north-west interior corner, close to the platform is the entrance to the minster’s vestry, and on the other side another entrance to the deacon’s vestry. The sittings for the choir are at the south end of the building. The church affords comfortable accommodation for between 400 and 500 persons, the sittings being roomy, and convenient of access. The floor of the aisles is covered with matting, and the folding-doors, opening from the lobby, are covered with red baize. The seats arc arranged in a semi-circular form, the arc diminishing fron the front to the back.

The entire cost of the building is about £3,000, but the cost of the site and other etceteras will bring the total outlay up to about £5,000. As we have already stated, Mr Herapath was the architect, and the building is so admirably designed and finished, and so excellently adapted for the requirements, that it reflects the greatest possible credit upon his professional skill and superintendence. Messrs Rose Brothers have executed their contract in a very faithful and painstaking manner. The painting and varnishing, being done by Mr. LeRoche, is very artistic, and the plastering (by Mr Kelly) and gas fitting and plumbing (by Mr. Parker) are likewise creditably executed. We understand that there will be a debt of £1,100 on the building. Of this, Captain Daldy and J C Firth, Esq , have generously promised to contribute £550, and it only remains for the congregation and friends to exert themselves in freeing the building from all encumbrances.

Southern Cross 19 February 1876

The galleries were constructed in 1881, and in 1884 came a further enlargement for the organ loft, vestries for the pastor and deacons, and classrooms. As at 1902 (year of the Auckland volume of the Cyclopedia of New Zealand), the church seated 850 people, and was described as "one of the prettiest places of worship in the Colony." The organist at the time, W J Hookey, served as a draughtsman for the Auckland Gas Company.

Things were not going so well just two decades further on. In August 1922, a meeting of the congregation presided over by Rev Frederic Warner, voted to close the church and sell the property, in the light of declining attendances. The motion had been put by George Fowlds. Rev Warner resigned soon after, whether because of the decision or not, I don't know. He was found dead the following year.

TRAGIC DEATH
PASTOR DEAD UNDER CHURCH.
AUCKLAND, 8th February.
A tragic discovery was made in one of the rooms beneath the Beresford Street Congregational Church this evening, when the body of the Rev. Frederick Warner, formerly pastor of the church, was found after a search had been in progress since the previous day. Deceased retired at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday, there being nothing to indicate an unusual state of health. On Wednesday morning he was missed. The Rev. Mr. Warner was about 60 years of age, and at one time was in Sydney, and then at Newton, Auckland, for six years, returning to Australia in 1900 and serving in Melbourne and South Australia. He accepted the charge at Beresford Street seven or eight years ago, resigning about six months ago. At the time of his death he was chairman of the New Zealand Congregational Union, and vice-president of the Congregational Union of Australia and New Zealand. He leaves a widow, son, and two daughters.

Evening Post 9 February 1923

Around this time, though, the church began to pick up again.

UNANIMOUS CALL

GOOD WORK DONE BY REV. L. B. FLETCHER.

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. The decision to accept a permanent pastorate of the Beresford Street Congregational Church was announced by the Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher at the morning service yesterday. The announcement was made in response to a unanimous, call by the. congregation for him to remain indefinitely as pastor. As the result of his three years' work the church has been crowded out, and it had been necessary to use the Majestic Theatre for the time being. Under the supervision of Mrs. Fletcher, a great deal of social work was being done among the poorer classes, and during the past three years the attendance at the Sunday School had trebled. The roll now numbered 750. 

Mr. Fletcher said that he therefore felt it would be a serious mistake for him to leave at the present stage. He had never enjoyed three years in a pastorate better than those spent in Auckland. Both lie and Mrs. Fletcher loved the people and the city of Auckland, and felt that they should remain until they had reason to depart.

Evening Post 22 November 1926

From that point, the church went from strength to strength, until the motorway developments of the 1960s, cutting off this part of Beresford Street (now a Square). The congregation dwindled once more, and it was purchased in 1994. Today, it is a facility for hire called Hopetoun Alpha (for more information, see the K'Road heritage site.)