Avondale Timeline --
1990 - 2003

1990
Avondale Community Centre completed on Rosebank Road site.

1991
Redevelopment of Inner Circle site.
Avondale Oral History tape collection compiled and given to Auckland City Libraries.

1993
Barnes-Dance type of pedestrian crossing replaced at intersection of Great North Road and Rosebank Road.

1994
Challenge of the Whau by the Avondale History Group (compiled by Ron Oates) published.

1996
Security lighting project underway for shopping centre. Anti-Graffiti meeting called. Avondale Business Pride Programme outlined at Business Association meeting. Seperate rating system proposed. Recruitment programme for Business association members.
December 7:
First Santa Parade through Avondale's shopping centre.

1997
Avondale adopts Mainstreet programme. LynnAvon shopping centre opens.
June 27:
3 Guys Supermarket closes. Is the last supermarket in Avondale.
December:
First issue of Avondale Business Directory

1998
Avondale Business Association adopt "Avondale -- Of Course" logo, featuring stylised tick on coloured background. SLIPs grants given for shopping centre development plans. Installation of replica light standard at roundabout.

1999
Avondale News published by Newsletter Company of New Lynn. Ceases publication by early 2001.
Avondale Spider adopted as icon by Business Association.
First Liveable Communities Plan workshops held by Auckland City.
November:
Avondale Community Fun Day, originally held at Community Centre from 1990 to 1998, changes location to Avondale primary School -- "The Village Green".

2000
Some buildings in the shopping centre re-painted to "Art Deco" type style. Generic signage erected, pointing out business types at a glance from the street.
Plans begin for "Town Square", otherwise known as Stage 1 of Mainstreet Project.
Local group "Wai Kauri" paint mural on fence in behind shopping area.
October:
Avondale goes "on-line" with launch of Avondale Business Association website.

2001
March 1
Heart of the Whau Project instigated by Business Association, researched by L Truttman. Aimed at producing a history of Avondale Central.
August - Launch of Rimtark website, collection of Avondale History online.This later joined in February by Earth Settler site, together forming an "on line museum" for Avondale History.
September Inauguration of the Avondale Historical Journal by the Heart of the Whau Project.

2002
March
First Meeting of the Avondale-Waterview Historical Society. In June, they incorporated.
July
Opening of the Avondale Town Centre and "Dale" the Avondale Spider. Stage 1 of Mainstreet Programme complete.

2003
July
Publication of Heart of the Whau by the Avondale-Waterview Historical Society, compiled by Lisa Truttman. 300 copies printed, first 250 sold out by end of October.

I must acknowledge the assistance of Mr Jan Grefstad for information from his forthcoming book, Picture Theatres of Auckland; Mike Butler of Auckland City's Heritage Planning Department for his extensive study into the history of Avondale's buildings; various libraruies and archive collections, and not least the very kind people I have interviewed so far for Heart of the Whau who are all listed in the book.

Lisa Truttman.

Backgrounds for the Timeline came from these sites:

Bradley W. Schenk – Celtic Art

Howard Oliver’s site, Celtic or Knot

Karen Nicholas' Celtic WebArt site

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