The Walk
Residential development came to Mt Eden in 1864. George Owen subdivided his land forming 70 small sections around Percy Street and Hillside Crescent (previously known as Cromwell and Milton Roads). However it wasn’t until 1882 that the last of these sections was sold by auctioneer Samuel Cochrane. It was here that some of Auckland’s businessmen erected their country residences. The 1870s saw further subdivisions. Valley Road and Sherbourne Road were formed when Charles Tothill subdivided his land into two and four acre lots. James Stokes subdivided land adjacent to Stokes Road which was dedicated in 1873. William Rowe subdivided the area around View and Esplanade Roads in 1874. Other landowners in the area north of Valley Road followed suit while the land to the south retained its agricultural identity.Mt Eden itself was increasingly popular for walking and as a weekend and holiday picnic destination. In 1874 it was proposed to form a public recreation reserve on Mt Eden. This was achieved in 1879 when 26 hectares were set aside as a public domain. The domain board placed restrictions on quarrying, fenced the domain and commenced tree planting, sowing grass and forming paths and roadways.Volcanic stone was used extensively for early road building, as well as walls and fences and remains an important characteristic of the area. Allotment sizes demonstrate a pattern of more substantial suburban development and the area retains its early housing stock to a significant degree, including largely one and two storied timber villas. The architectural design of the villa together with surrounding gardens form a lasting expression of the Victorian and Edwardian middle class in New Zealand, reflecting a love of home and comfort, spacious interiors, decoration and display. The construction of this type of housing coincided with massive increases in population and with developments in the timber industry. Woodworking machinery was introduced in the 1860s, and in the late 19th century thousands of houses were built incorporating a vast range of mass-produced elements available from a highly mechanized timber industry.This walk features a number of the scheduled or registered historic churches and houses in Mt Eden
Former Mt Eden Borough Council Building/Fire Station
Begin the walk at the corner of Valley Road and Sherbourne Road.
War Memorial Entry & Primary School
Valley RoadErected after the First World War, the memorial entry were remodelled in 1965 when the original heavy iron gates were replaced.During the First World War over 18,000 New Zealand men were killed in action or died of wounds or disease. The vast majority were buried overseas. War memorials stood in place of distant graves, and were erected in almost every town and village throughout the country in memory of those from the local area who had died. In addition to their commemorative role memorials were often intended to have an educational purpose expressing both pride in military achievement, courage and self-sacrifice, and an appreciation of peace and liberty. They were frequently located at the entrance to primary schools or even within school grounds to provide inspiration to the young.The primary school has been located on this site since 1879. The first timber school building in Mt Eden was built in 1877 on the corner of Valley Road and Mt Eden Road. It shifted to a new building on the current school site in 1879.
Oliver Nicholson Residence
14 Horoeka AvenueThis fine residence was built in the late nineteenth century for Oliver Nicholson who served as Mayor of the Mt Eden Borough Council for its first twelve years. Nicholson is remembered as being an outstanding leader who came to be regarded as the “father” of the borough. He was a trained lawyer and successful businessman who supported many philanthropic causes.
St James Church
Turn right into View Road, and along to the corner of Esplanade Road.
Ficino Primary School
27 Esplanade RoadOriginally the home of dentist Laurie Taylor this house was more recently used as the Bethesda Old Peoples Home run by Seventh Day Adventists. In the late 1990s it was converted to a small private school, which opened in 1997.
Flats
Return to View Road and continue toward Mt Eden Road
Tram Shelter/Mt Eden/Mt Mt Eden Tea Kiosk
Mt Eden Road, Entrance to domain.The tram passenger shelter at the entrance to Mt Eden Domain was built around 1910. Toilets were added prior to 1929.Above the tram shelter is Te Ngutu (The Lips), one of the ceremonial entrances to Maungawhau pa. It is one of a number of hierarchical entrances that lead to the highly defended tihi or summit. Near here also are ceremonial altars where the ritual observances of Te Ao Maori are practiced.From the 1870s a reservoir on top of the mountain improved the Auckland water supply. In 1929 during the construction of a new reservoir, the wall of the existing reservoir collapsed spewing 3,500 tons of water down the mountain.Mt Eden offers a wonderful vantage point and around 1869 a road to the summit was thought to have been built for the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh. In order to protect the volcanic cone 27 hectares forming the Mt Eden Domain was set aside as crown land in the 1870s. During the 1920s access was improved with the laying of paths and steps to the summit. In 1927 a tea kiosk was erected on the mountain to serve the many visitors who made the trek up Mt Eden. The kiosk was surrounded by rose gardens planted during the depression of the 1930s. The mountain remains a popular tourist attraction.
St Barnabas Church
281 Mt Eden RoadAs the oldest church building in Mt Eden, St Barnabas began its life as a Maori chapel in Mechanics Bay. It was built of pit sawn Kauri under the direction of Bishop Selwyn to the design of architect Frederick Thatcher. The church fell into disuse on its original site and was moved by bullock drawn wagons to its current location in 1877. The width of the building was increased by 18 feet in 1886 and numerous the other additions followed over the years.
John Batger Residence
358 Mt Eden RoadIn 1879 Auckland businessman John Batger had this house erected. Batger was prominent in business affairs being the Auckland manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, director of the New Zealand Insurance Company, trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank and president of the Auckland Institute and Museum. He was also involved in church affairs being a member of several church bodies. He lived in the house until his death in 1919.
