Avondale
Timeline --
1841 to 1869
1841
29
June:
Sale of Land Deed between Ngati Whatua and the Crown,
including the Whau area.
1842
County of Eden proclaimed, including the Whau.
1843
John Shedden Adam is granted land in the district (Allotment 85). First
known settler. Later buys Allotment 13 and much of future New Windsor area in
1844 sales. He leaves for Australia in 1845.
1844-45
First land sales. Henry Walton buys Allotment 63. Dr Daniel Pollen buys
land at the end of Rosebank Peninsula -- starts to create a "country
estate".
1845
First
New Zealand War. Scare across Auckland regarding possibility of attack by
Hine Heke.
Great North Road worked out as a “rapid” route for militia and
armament in case of war.
1848
JJ
Symonds and Col. Haultain apparently survey the Whau District with view to creating
Fencible settlement, but found it unsuitable (however, no corroborating
evidence of this survey yet found).
1850s
By
now, around 5 or 6 settlers in the area, including J Comrie at Allotment
85.
Early
1850s
First
wooden Whau Bridge. Post collected from the bridge by boat to take to
Auckland.
1850
System
of “Hundreds” – County of Eden spilt into 6 administrative parts.
By this time, Rosebank Peninsula the site for "night soil"
deposits, and grazing by sheep and cattle.
1851
Borough
of Auckland (short-lived).
1853
Auckland
Provincial Council created.
1854
First
bridge over Oakley Creek: formation of the Whau Highway (New North Road).
Development of Mount Albert begins.
1855
Daniel Pollen, land buyer of part of Rosebank Peninsula in 1845, buys more
land across "the lane" from his estate and starts a
brickyard -- the first in West Auckland. Lasts for around 25 years. Bricks
from Pollen's yard go into building of the Lunatic Asylum (1863).
Late
1850s
First
explorations into a canal
linking Waitemata and Manukau Harbours via the Whau Creek.
1856
Monthly
Presbyterian services at the home of Mr J Comrie, the Whau.
1859
5 August:
Auction
of “waste lands” in the Whau district. Frees up land for settlement.
Future settlements at "Whau North" (Avondale) and "Whau
South" (Blockhouse Bay) surveyed and mapped out.
14 November:
Work
starts on building Whau
Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Aickin builds his home on Rosebank Peninsula around this time.
Suggestions made to construct canal along the Whau River and portage to the Manukau. Land speculations increase.
1860
By
this time, other brickyards were appearing on the banks of the Whau Creek.
First true post office, according to some sources, at corner of Prince's
St (Elm) and Brown St (Rosebank) makes appearance.
2 March:
Petitions
to the Provincial Council regarding the line of the main roads to the
Whau.
Easter :
Whau
Presbyterian Church first service.
1861
Mr
W Young’s regular coach service, Auckland to Henderson’s Mill, via the
Whau.
John
Bollard
arrives to live in the Whau.
Whau
School Committee
formed. John Bollard starts his 54 year membership of this committee. The
School is held in the Presbyterian Church until 1867.
Thomas' Star Mills begins on the Oakley Creek. Later bought out by Garrett Brothers.
1862
Rosebank Cemetery gifted
to the Anglican Diocese by Dr. Thomas Aickin -- first burial 3 August 1862
(William, Dr. Aickin's son).
1863
First
Whau Hotel flourishes from early 1860s to c.1870. The Whau Store now
opposite the Whau Hotel "on the town side".
Sale of “Greytown”
development, Allotment 64, central Whau Township, by Thomas Russell. Michael
Wood buys most of the lots.
James Wright comes to work at Pollen's brickyard. He later leaves, and
sets up his own.
Varnish factories begin to appear on Rosebank.
1864
Provincial
government decide on forming final route for Great North Road, making the
section through Arch Hill passable for settlements further west.
Property speculator Michael Wood puts on the market his widely-spread holdings, including
"Waterview", "Greytown" and "East Whau" (Blockhouse
Bay).These are not finally desposed of until David Nathan sells them for
Wood in 1866.
Benjamin
Gittos and Sons Tannery starts operations near corner of Manukau Road
(Blockhouse Bay Rd) and New North Rd.
1865
Presbyterian
parish of Titirangi splits from Onehunga. Base now at the Whau.
1866
Turnpike
Act, for Provincial Government to collect tax on vehicles to fund road
maintenance.
22 February:
Mt
Albert Highways District formed (includes the Whau). Declared in October.
Whau
Minstrels
form.
1867
27
March:
First meeting, in John Bollard’s home, of Whau Public Hall Committee.
13
November: Whau
Public Hall
opens. Whau School classes in Public Hall 1867-1882
1868
5
October:
Whau
Highways District
formed. First
Whau Public Library
in the Hall. Closes in December.
Late 1860s Depression hits Auckland. The Whau loses population.
1869
Whau
Educational District established.
New North Road extended down Blake Street, Blake Street renamed New North
Road (until 1899, when it reverted to Blake Street).
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