THE OLD WATERFRONT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22131, 10 June 1935, Page 11

THE OLD WATERFRONT

CHANGES IN 90 IYEAKS BEACHES TO CITY STREETS FORMER BAYS OUTLINED Passing over busy city streets that once were sandy beaches where Auckland's young people of the '4o's used to play, members of the Auckland Historical Society were conducted on Saturday afternoon by Mr. D. Holderness, engineer to the Auckland Harbour Board, over what was the city's fore- j shore in the early days. Later the members were taken to the Harbour Board's office, where the changes that had been brought about by reclamation were | shown on maps, and reminiscences of | former times were exchanged. To the younger members at least the most surprising revelation was given j at the outset, when the party stopped ; a few yards along King's from i Quay Street and this spot was pointed j out as approximately the site of the famous Point Britomart, above which Auckland's first fort stood. From this point back over part of the former station site and across Beach Road to Emily Place, it was explained, a high promontory originally ran, cutting off Official Bay from Commercial Bay. Large Area ol Reclamations The party then proceeded along the waterfront road to where Campbell's Point jutted into the sea before the construction of the waterfront road and the Orakei railway outlet. On its route from this point back through the city the party followed almost exactly the line of the old waterfront and looked to the right over 345 acres of land, now covered with commercial buildings, parks and railway yardings, where once the sea was the only view of the old pioneers, whose homes dotted the cliffs over the little bays. From Campbell's Point the route followed the Strand, where a t present the great mercantile stores look over what was St. George's Bay, once a favourite bathing spot. A hundred yards further, the site of St. Barnabas' Point was passed and then, tucked away between modern brick stores and overgrown with wattles, was the site of Judge Martin's house, which once fronted a delightful sandy beach .in what was then a charming location for a residence, although rather inaccessible.

Early Official Landings

The inmost point of Mechanics' Bay was pointed out as the present site of the Maori Hostelry at the foot of Constitution Hill, and then came Official Bay, which was situated slightly to the east of the foot of Anzac Avenue, but separated from the business quarters of the citv by the high land running out to Point Britomart. Official Bay is said to have had one of the sandiest beaches of Auckland, and here most of the official landings took place. The line of Fort Street, onoe known as Fore Street, followed the beach of what was Commercial Bay, and on j the western side of Queen Street was the mouth of the Ligar Stream. Going down Queen Street and around into Customs Street, the party passed what was once Smaile's Point. Along Fanshawe Street was the shore of Brickfields Bay, and then the party skirted one of the best; known and I largest reclamations of all—Freeman's I Bay, which gave the city Victoria Park I and the large western reclamations on ! which the oil companies' fuel stores are j situated. Then on the present site of 1 the Auckland Gas Company's works in | Beaumont Street the last point to be | noted was Acheron Point, known orig- | inally as Fisher's Point.

Heed for More Records

Mr. Holderness pointed out that even the waterfront of 1841 was only a temporary one. There was evidence that geologically it was not a long time since the Waitemata Harbour was probably only a narrow stream. Dredges off the western breakwater had dragged up portions of pungasi and forest trees in a perfect state of preservation and probablv not more than a few hundred years old. In Mechanics' Bay great quantities of peat were found below the sea bed. . In thanking Mr. Holderness for his address, the president of the society, the Rev. A. B. Chappell, pointed out that there was great danger of the early conditions in Auckland being forgotten. "We are living on other people's memories and it is time that more historical records should be made," he concluded.