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Grey Lynn

Coordinates: 36°51′36″S 174°44′20″E / 36.86012°S 174.738858°E / -36.86012; 174.738858
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the suburb. For the abolished electorate, see Grey Lynn (New Zealand electorate).

Grey Lynn
Suburb
Older villas in the south of the suburb
Older villas in the south of the suburb
Map
Location of Grey Lynn in Auckland
Coordinates: 36°51′36″S 174°44′20″E / 36.86012°S 174.738858°E / -36.86012; 174.738858
CountryNew Zealand
CityAuckland
Local authorityAuckland Council
Electoral wardWaitematā and Gulf ward
Local boardWaitematā Local Board
Established1880s
Area
[1]
 • Land282 ha (697 acres)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total11,880
Postcode(s)
1021
Westmere Herne Bay Ponsonby
Point Chevalier
Grey Lynn
 Newton
Western Springs Morningside Arch Hill, Kingsland

Grey Lynn is an inner suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the west of the city centre. Originally a separate borough, Grey Lynn amalgamated with Auckland City in 1914.

Grey Lynn is centred on Grey Lynn Park, which was not part of the original subdivision of 1883, since the land was too steep and too wet for house construction. In 1915, the land was drained and levelled for playing fields.[3] The park is home to the annual Grey Lynn Park Festival, which attracts around 100,000 visitors on the third Saturday in November.[4]

History

[edit]

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in Auckland, Grey Lynn was a frequent transit point and had multiple places with abundant local food sources and access to freshwater.[5] Food sources included several kūmara plantations in Grey Lynn, on the hill slopes above Opoutukeha, Coxs Creek.[3] In the late 17th or early 18th century, there were a series of raids in the area led by Kāwharu (Tainui), known as Raupatu Tīhore.[6] Kāwharu reportedly rested his head on the ridge that is now the location of Surrey Crescent.[7] This area was known subsequently as Te Rae o Kāwharu (Kāwharu's brow), which is also the Māori name of Grey Lynn School.[7][8]

Early European settlements and farming

[edit]

The area that later became Grey Lynn was part of the first 3000-acre block of land gifted by Ngāti Whātau Ōrākei in October 1840.[9] The Grey Lynn area was originally known as Newton until being renamed in August 1899.[10]

In 1844 and 1845, blocks of land in the western part of Grey Lynn were auctioned off.[11] Many of the purchasers were based outside of Auckland and several sold their land within a few years.[12]

In the early 1840s, John Monteforte bought what was then known as Surrey Hills, which encompassed much of the land from Ponsonby to Richmond Roads, totalling 198 acres (80 hectares).[13] In 1847, Thomas Crummer and his business partner, James Williamson, bought Surrey Hills.[13][14] Crummer and Williamson bought further sections of land, buying all the land bounded by Ponsonby, Great North and Richmond Roads, except for "three blocks at the northern end where Tutanekai, Hakanoa and Sackville streets run."[15]

The Surrey Hills Estate was leased from the early 1840s to the mid-1880s, and housed a farm and a sheep run.[15] In 1871, Frank Lawry leased part of the Surrey Hills Estate and created a dairy farm.[16][17] Later on in the 1870s, this lease was taken up by James Walmsley and, following him, Ponsonby Peacocke.[18]

Early industry and infrastructure

[edit]

In 1871, Thomas Faulder, who owned land between Surrey Crescent and Tuarangi Road, was appointed night soil contractor for Auckland.[19][20] During the early 1870s, there were numerous complaints over the use of this land for this purpose, and Faulder found himself before the Central Board of Health in 1874.[21] A judge later deemed that Auckland City Council could not have legally designated Faulder's farm as a night soil depot, and the depot was relocated to Avondale in 1875.[22]

Residential subdivisions

[edit]

Following Crummer's death, Williamson bought the Crummer's children's share in the Surrey Hills Estate.[14] When Williamson was facing financial hardship in the early 1880s, Surrey Hills Estate was bought by the Auckland Agricultural Company.[23][24] In 1883, the 127 hectares (310 acres) that was the estate was subdivided for residential purposes, the largest subdivision in the area at the time.[10][25] In 1885, there was a depression in the economy which slowed building on the estate.[26] In August 1889, the borough changed its name to Grey Lynn.[10]

In 1893, unsold sections of the Surrey Hills Estate were leased as grazing once again.[26] In the late 1890s-early 1900s, residential building slowly resumed and by 1903 there were "1040 dwellings in Grey Lynn Borough."[27] With the extensions of the tramlines to West Lynn in 1910, there was another wave of subdivisions in the area.[28] During this period, the area was considered largely working class.[29]

In the 1920s, Auckland City Council began building workers housing with 60 houses built on Old Mill and West View Roads.[30][31] In the 1940s, there was also the building of state-owned units for pensioners built on the Great North Road and on the corner of Surrey Crescent and Gilbert Avenue.[32]

Modern history

[edit]

The 1970s saw a renewed interest in older Victorian properties, and from that period onwards many young professionals began buying dilapidated kauri villas in areas like Grey Lynn and renovating them.[33] From the early 1980s, this gentrification began to visibly change the area, resulting in an increase in house prices and in higher rents.[34] This also led to an increase in the number of people renting in Grey Lynn. In 1961, 31% of people in Grey Lynn were renting, by 1981 this had already increased to 45%.[35]

Local governance

[edit]
The Grey Lynn Council Chambers and Fire Station circa 1910. To the right is Rose Road

In 1869, the Newton Highway District and a corresponding governing board was formed, encompassing the land bordered by Great North Road, Tuarangi Road and Motions Creek.[36] The Newton Highway Board originally administered an area of 366 hectares (900 acres). In November 1885, the Newton Borough Council was formed and took over administration from the Highway Board.[10] Grey Lynn was an independent borough from 1885–1914, led by a mayor, listed below. The Grey Lynn Borough Council merged into Auckland City Council on July 1914.[37] In 1914 Grey Lynn was amalgamated with the City of Auckland.[10]

Mayors

[edit]
  • Richard T. Warnock, 1885–1887
  • F. J. Jones, 1887–1888
  • S. J. Ambury, 1888–1890
  • Samuel Carey Brown, 1890–1893
  • Thomas English, 1893–1894
  • Richard T. Warnock, 1894–1896
  • John Wisdom Shackelford, 1896–1899
  • Richard T. Warnock, 1899–1903
  • John Wisdom Shackelford, 1903–1904
  • John Farrell, 1904–1907
  • George Sayers, 1907–1909
  • William John Holdsworth, 1909–1912
  • George Baildon, 1912–1914

Grey Lynn Park

[edit]
The Grey Lynn Festival in 2008

Grey Lynn Park was established in the 1880s at the site of a former dairy farm.[38] The Grey Lynn Park Festival has been held in early summer since 1984,[39] and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009.[40] It is the last independent community event in the city.[citation needed] The event, which attracts on average 100,000 visitors each year, is organised by four people who raise money from stall fees and charitable grants.[41] It started as a local community get-together with working-class and Pasifika roots, though the appeal has broadened through the decades.[42] Local band Unity Pacific first performed at the festival in 1987, and have appeared many times since. They headlined in 2009.[40]

Education and sports

[edit]

Grey Lynn School and Newton Central School are contributing primary (years 1-6) schools with rolls of 276[43] and 333,[44] respectively.

St Joseph's School is a Catholic state-integrated full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 52.[45]

All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of August 2024.[46]

Secondary schools serving the area include Auckland Girls' Grammar School, Mount Albert Grammar School, and Western Springs College.

Grey Lynn Park is the home ground of the Richmond Rovers rugby league club, one of the oldest Rugby League clubs in Auckland.[38]

Demographics

[edit]

Grey Lynn covers 2.82 km2 (1.09 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 11,880 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 4,213 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200610,242—    
201310,842+0.82%
201811,733+1.59%
Source: [47]

Grey Lynn had a population of 11,733 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 891 people (8.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,491 people (14.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 4,173 households, comprising 5,751 males and 5,985 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 1,695 people (14.4%) aged under 15 years, 3,291 (28.0%) aged 15 to 29, 5,994 (51.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 753 (6.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 78.7% European/Pākehā, 9.7% Māori, 12.4% Pacific peoples, 9.8% Asian, and 3.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 29.6, compared with 27.1 nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.5% had no religion, 28.2% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% were Hindu, 0.9% were Muslim, 1.0% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 4,884 (48.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 564 (5.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 3,432 people (34.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 6,591 (65.7%) people were employed full-time, 1,392 (13.9%) were part-time, and 318 (3.2%) were unemployed.[47]

Individual statistical areas
Name Area (km2) Population Density (per km2) Households Median age Median income
Grey Lynn North 0.73 3,099 4,245 1,035 34.1 years $53,500[48]
Grey Lynn West 0.80 3,156 3,945 1,110 33.9 years $42,300[49]
Grey Lynn Central 0.71 3,588 5,054 1,281 32.7 years $54,300[50]
Grey Lynn East 0.58 1,890 3,259 747 31.6 years $53,900[51]
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Notable buildings

[edit]
Carlile House
Grey Lynn Public Library
St Joseph's Church
  • Grey Lynn Council Chambers and Fire Station: The former Borough Council Chambers and Fire Station. This building is distinguished by a wooden spire (recently restored) which originally housed the fire bell. Standing at the Ponsonby Road end of Williamson Avenue, this brick building dates from 1889, was designed by John Mitchell.[52]
  • Former Auckland Savings Bank: Located on Ponsonby Road near the intersection with Karangahape Road.[citation needed] This italianate building was designed in 1885 by Edward Bartley – originally a single story building it received a second story designed by the same architect in 1900. The former banking chamber is distinguished by the use of New Zealand marble. In the 1920s the lower part of the room was lined with panelling made of Cloudy Bay Marble from Nelson.[citation needed] Currently occupied by an Art Gallery.
  • Allendale House: At the corner of Crummer Road and Ponsonby Road stands the large 1890s Italianate house of George Allen, a saddle and harness maker.[53] Allendale is a local landmark, having been successively a doctor's surgery, Maori girls hostel, boarding house, refuge for alcoholic men, and a restaurant.[53] In 1989, it was purchased by the ASB Community Trust, now Foundation North, as its headquarters and was the subject of a large restoration and extension project from 2013 to 2015.[54]
  • Carlile House: A large Italianate building at 84 Richmond Road, designed by Robert Jones Roberts.[55] Built in 1886 as an industrial school named the Costley Training Institute as part of the bequest of Edward Costley who left money for several Auckland charities.[55] Owned by the adjacent church, it is now in poor condition and vandalised.[56] The original stables are still visible on the Chamberlain Street side.
  • Grey Lynn Public Library: Located at the Surrey Crescent shop at 474 Great North Road. This Neo-Georgian building was designed by architect William Gummer, and was opened in December 1924 by the then Mayor Sir James Gunson.[57] It continues to be used as a public library and community hall today, and the inside now includes murals painted by artist Murray Grimsdale.[58]
  • Former Cameo Cinema: Located at the Surrey Crescent shops, built in 1928, this Art-Deco building has been subdivided into several spaces and is occupied by a variety of businesses.[59] The arched entrance is still a feature of the streetscape facing down Great North Road towards Western Springs.
  • St Joseph's Church: Located on the Great North Road at Surrey Crescent. This modernist Roman Catholic Church from 1958 was designed by Guy Chambers and is distinguished by stained glass windows by Milan Mrkusich.[citation needed]
  • St Joseph's Convent: Adjacent to the church on Great North Road is a school with modern buildings. One building is the former Convent built in the 1920s to replace an earlier wooden structure which burnt down.[citation needed] It is currently used as a hostel.

Notable people

[edit]

Notable people who have grown up, lived or worked in Grey Lynn include:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b Mace, Tania (2024). The Near West: A history of Grey Lynn, Arch Hill and Westmere. Massey University Press. pp. 243–244. ISBN 9780995146501.
  4. ^ "GLPF". Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  5. ^ Mace 2024, p. 26.
  6. ^ Mace 2024, p. 27.
  7. ^ a b Mace 2024, p. 28.
  8. ^ "Te Rae O Kawharu - Grey Lynn School". Te Rae O Kawharu - Grey Lynn School. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  9. ^ Mace 2024, p. 29.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Council Chambers and Fire Station (Former)". Heritage New Zealand.
  11. ^ Mace 2024, p. 38-39.
  12. ^ Mace 2024, p. 39.
  13. ^ a b Mace 2024, p. 46.
  14. ^ a b "DEATH OF THE HON. JAMES WILLIAMSON, M.L.C." NEW ZEALAND HERALD. Vol. XXV, no. 9009. 23 March 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  15. ^ a b Mace 2024, p. 48.
  16. ^ Mace 2024, p. 48-49.
  17. ^ "Wesleyan Sunday School Annual Fete". Auckland Star. Vol. III, no. 870. 1 January 1873. p. 2.
  18. ^ Mace 2024, p. 49.
  19. ^ Mace 2024, p. 96.
  20. ^ "Advertisements Column 7". Auckland Star. Vol. V, no. 1228. 12 January 1874. p. 1.
  21. ^ "Central Board of Health". Auckland Star. Vol. V, no. 1480. 7 November 1874. p. 3.
  22. ^ Mace 2024, p. 97-98.
  23. ^ Mace 2024, p. 54.
  24. ^ "Untitled". New Zealand Herald. Vol. XVIII, no. 6757. 14 July 1883. p. 4.
  25. ^ "The Surrey Hills Estate". New Zealand Herald. Vol. XX, no. 6758. 16 July 1883. p. 5.
  26. ^ a b Mace 2024, p. 68.
  27. ^ Mace 2024, p. 69.
  28. ^ Mace 2024, p. 74.
  29. ^ Margaret McClure, 'Auckland places - Western suburbs: Ponsonby to Hillsborough', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/auckland-places/page-11 (accessed 16 November 2024)
  30. ^ Mace 2024, p. 80.
  31. ^ Ben Schrader, 'Housing and government - Council housing', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/32436/grey-lynn-council-houses (accessed 16 November 2024)
  32. ^ Mace 2024, p. 82.
  33. ^ Morris, Bruce (11 September 2010). "Gentrified Auckland suburb's time to shine". The New Zealand Herald.
  34. ^ "Grey Lynn — an exclusive extract". The New Zealand Herald. 3 February 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  35. ^ Mace 2024, p. 82-86.
  36. ^ Mace 2024, p. 94.
  37. ^ Hiyama, Kaaren (1991). High hopes in hard times : a history of Grey Lynn and Westmere. Grey Lynn, N.Z.: Media Studies Trust. p. 48. ISBN 0-473-01467-X. OCLC 154684723.
  38. ^ a b Janssen, Peter (January 2021). Greater Auckland Walks. New Holland Publishers. p. 75. ISBN 978-1-86966-516-6. Wikidata Q118136068.
  39. ^ "Diary Date: Grey Lynn Festival – 30 November" (PDF). Grey Lynn Festival official website/Ponsonby News. November 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  40. ^ a b Rein, Jocelyn (27 November 2009). "Grey Lynn festival turns 25". Auckland City Harbour News. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  41. ^ Osmond, Bernard (28 November 2005). "Wet fields stop Grey Lynn party". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  42. ^ "Grey Lynn festival celebrates 25 years". One News. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  43. ^ Education Counts: Grey Lynn School
  44. ^ Education Counts: Newton Central School
  45. ^ Education Counts: St Joseph's School
  46. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  47. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Grey Lynn North (131600), Grey Lynn West (132100), Grey Lynn Central (132800) and Grey Lynn East (133500).
  48. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Grey Lynn North
  49. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Grey Lynn West
  50. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Grey Lynn Central
  51. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Grey Lynn East
  52. ^ "Council Chambers and Fire Station (Former)". Heritage NZ. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  53. ^ a b "House". Heritage NZ. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  54. ^ Harvey, Justine. "Allendale House and Annexe". Architecture Now. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  55. ^ a b "Costley Training Institute (Former)". Heritage NZ. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  56. ^ Williams, Caroline (29 April 2021). "Million-dollar dumps: Auckland's $5.8m Carlile House deemed 'dangerous building'". Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  57. ^ "Papers Past — New Zealand Herald — 15 December 1924 — NEW BRANCH LIBRARY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 15 December 1924. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  58. ^ Horrell, Rhiannon (4 February 2010). "Library murals turn over new leaf". Stuff. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  59. ^ "Cameo Theatre in Auckland, NZ - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • The Heart of Colonial Auckland, 1865–1910. Terence Hodgson. Random Century NZ Ltd 1992.
  • Colonial Architecture In New Zealand. John Stacpoole. A.H & A.W Reed 1976
  • Decently And In Order, The Centennial History of the Auckland City Council. G.W.A Bush. Collins 1971.
  • Auckland Through A Victorian Lens. William Main. Millwood Press 1977.
  • Ponsonby Heritage Walks. Tania Mace. Ponsonby Road Productions 2005.
  • High hopes in hard times : a history of Grey Lynn and Westmere. Kaaren Hiyama. Media Studies Trust 1991.
[edit]
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