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		PRE EUROPEAN
					Pre- European Since Pre-European times the Karangahape Road ridge has constituted a vital "node" for the progressive means and systems of transportation in Auckland. For the Maori the ridge was used to walk the early route to the Manukau Heads, from the inner isthmus area. It is also said that the ridge was used to access the harbour from MT Eden.

		1840
					1840 March. The Treaty of Waitangi signed by three Ngati Whatua Chiefs [ Apihai Te Kawau, Te Tinana & Te Reweti ] Wanting to be safe guarded from attack from other Maori tribes they encouraged Hobson to site the Capital on the Tamaki Isthmus. During a meeting at Okahu, about 1780, a tohunga, Titai, had recited a prophecy

		1850
					1850 Partingtons Windmill is built by Charles Partington. During the New Zealand Wars Partington’s business, the Victoria Flour Mill lands the lucrative contract to supply the Army troops with biscuits. Despite bad storm damage in 1924 and being gutted by fire in 1931 the brick built Windmill continue to grind corn until 1941. It will be demolished in 1950.

		1860
					1861–68 George Grey is again appointed Governor, having spent time as the Governor of the Cape Colony 1863 Map of Auckland showing roads named Karangahape road & Pitt St.

		1870
					1871 On 24th of April 1871 Auckland is proclaimed a Borough. There is now a City Council again for the first time since 1852. 1872 .Competition for the new Hospital building won by Philip Herepath. Prize of £50. 1873 A massive fire destroys 54 buildings [ Wellesley st west & Grey St ]

		1880
					1880 The prosperity of Auckland (in general terms) in the 1880's saw new suburbs being formed inland and on the isthmus. Dominion Road, Great North Road, and MT Eden Road all became important arterial links to the new suburbs of catalogue villas which the developing middle-class inhabited. 1883 The first effective horse drawn tram system that linked the high flat ridges of Central Auckland.

		1890
					1890s George Court opens his department store on K’rd . 1893 The Carpenters Arms Hotel, Grey St by Edward Mahoney [ demolished in the 1970s for Mayoral Drive.] 1897 The Naval & Family Hotel is constructed on the site of The Family Hotel which had burnt down [ see 1883 ] 1897 The Grandstand in the Auckland Domain burns down and is replaced by the present structure.[extant] 1899 Grey Lynn an area of 900 acres is named in Honour of Sir George Grey. Sir George Grey had died the previous year in Britain, and is interred in St Pauls Cathedral. He had for a number of years been the member for Auckland West in the NZ House of Representatives

		1900
					1902 The first Electric tram service reaches Symonds street from Queen St via Wellesley St. speed limit for trams set at 9 miles [ 13.5 kilometres ] an hour. Part of the contact to allow trams use the roadway is that the central section where the tramlines are laid is surfaced in asphalt. 1902 Speed limit for cars set at 8 miles [ 12 kilometres ] an hour. 1902 The Central Fire Station in Pitt Street built by the Auckland City Council. Designed in 1901 by Goldsboro’ & Wade. [extant ] Within a few years the Metropolitan FireBoard will be formed. 1904 The right hand façade of Rendells is constructed [the left hand portion is built in 1920] [extant] 1904 Shops on Corner of K’rd & Pitt Street built; Leo O’Malley’s [extant] 1904 The first footbridge across Grafton gully is demolished and replaced by a shorter bridge at a lower level. 1905 About this time the unused portion of the Jewish Cemetery on the corner of K’rd & Symonds Street is gifted to the City by the Jewish community. There is initially a proposal to build a public bathhouse on the land but eventually it is developed as a park. 1907 Construction begins on the new Grafton bridge by the Ferro Concrete Company of Australasia. 1908 There are unsuccessful attempts to change the name of Karangahape road [ Cheepside, Fleet St, Broadway, George St, King Edward St ]. 1908-9 The Auckland Girls Grammar School moves into purpose built premises in Howe Street. Designed in 1907 by Goldsboro’ & Wade Architects [ extant ] 1909 National Bank Building K’rd Mahoney & Son [ demolished] 1909 The wooden St.Davids Church Khyber Pass by Edward Bartley is replaced by the existing brick church. 1909 A Vaudeville Theatre [240 K’rd] is converted into a cinema by the Hayward brothers It opens as the Tivoli, later it will be called the Star, [ by 1915 ] the Arcadia and finally [ by 1953 ]the Vogue [ closes by 1955 ] currently [2003] a nightclub.

		1910
					1910 Grafton Bridge The 2nd Wooden footbridge across Grafton Gully is superseded by the new Concrete Bridge. [extant] Costing £31,918, it is called by many “Myers Folly”. The two bridges stand side by side for several years. The new bridge 97.6metres high –296 metres long [ 163 ft longer and 12 feet higher than the bridge spanning Niagara Falls] When built the new bridge is the world’s largest single span of reinforced concrete. Completed in March 1910, at the opening in April 1910 two steam rollers are driven across it to dispel doubts about its strength. [ NZ Historic Places listing ]

		1920
					1920 The 1920's saw a rise in private ownership of cars. This resulted in the slow decrease in the perceived importance of Karangahape Road. I now became a means to the end of home, merely a through way rather than a forced terminus. The more affluent people who owned the cars and who had supported Karangahape Road's retail industry now spent locally in their suburbs; such as the retails of Remuera, MT Eden and MT Albert.

		1930
					1930 The lowering of property values saved the area's architectural heritage from destruction. Major development (such as that which occurred on parts of Symonds Street) did not occur in the area in the period from 1930-1975. Between 1975 and 1985 there were few new buildings constructed. Karangahape Road is unique in Auckland, in that it has a very dense concentration of differing façade types from differing periods, which form unbroken boundaries of approximately uniform height right along the street edge.

		1940
					1940 The first stage of the State Housing Corporation Development is built in Greys Avenue [ 108 Greys Avenue ] These Concrete Flats are noted for their basreliefs of NZ native birds [extant] [ NZ Historic Places Trust listed] 1941 Partington’s Windmill ceases to grind grain. 1942-45 Air-raid drills and black outs impose themselves on everyday life in Auckland. Along with rationing most private transportation is hampered by restrictions resulting in public transport being overloaded. The crush usually encountered at rush hour is now usual all day. Rationing will end in 1950. 1942 The basement of George Courts Department Store is utilised as the Air Raid Central Command. The Mayor J.A C [ later Sir John ] Allum is Chief Warden. When the building is restored in the 1990s a sealed room from this period is discovered. 1944 November 20th The New Central Fire Station on the corner of Greys Avenue & Pitt Street is opened by Hon. W.E.Perry, Minister of Internal Affairs. Built by the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board, architect Daniel.B.Patterson.[extant] 1946-48 Around this time the spire of St James’ Church is demolished. This wooden Gothic church stood in St James’ Square [ intersection of Union-Hobson St-StJames’ & Wellington Sts.] 1947 The first Traffic lights in Auckland are installed; June 15 -Albert & Customs Sts, July 10 –Symonds St & Khyber Pass, August 13 – Ponsonby & Great North Road, October 14 – K’rd & Pitt St [ the K’rd lights are the first to have a pedestrian phase ] December 4 Victoria & Queen sts, December 5 – Queen & Shortland Sts. 1948 In an effort to conserve power street lighting is turned off at 1am.[ the number of night time accidents increases ] Experimental fluorescent street lights are installed along K’rd [later extended to the whole city from November 1952 ]

		1950
					1950 End of rationing. The next ten years are a time of increased prosperity for K’rd. 1950 Partington’s Windmill is demolished despite considerable protest. One of the Millstones will be presented to MOTAT following its founding in 1960. 1950s St Helens Hospital [ Pitt St ] relocates to a new building in Western Springs. 1953 The first parking meters to be installed by a British Commonwealth Country become operative [purchased by the Auckland City Council from Duncan Miller Ltd. ] (3pence for 30 minutes) 1953 Around this time there are unsuccessful moves to rename Karangahape road as Elizabeth Street in honour of the New Queen. 1956 The electric Tram service is discontinued, the Tram tracks are torn up, the overhead wires continue to be used for the electric trolley buses. 1957 August 9th Foundation stone of 139 Greys Avenue is laid by the Hon.Dean.J.Eyre: Minister of Housing. This building is the second stage of the State Housing Corporation Development in Greys Avenue. F.Gordon Wilson Government Architect, Fletcher Construction Company Limited, F.M.Hanson Commissioner of Works. [extant] This building will be the tallest edifice in the city until the erection of the City Council Administration building [ 1966 ]

		1960
					1960 The State Cinema in Symonds St [ formerly the Lyric ] closes on March 30 1960. It is purchased by the Chinese Community of Auckland and is used as a dance hall & cinema for some years.[ demolished 1980s ] 1960 April 5. It becomes illegal to make a U turn on Queen Street or K’rd. 1960s The construction of the motorway network results in the demolition of several thousand buildings in the Grafton-Symonds St-K’rd-Freemans Bay area. This results in a dramatic downturn in economic life in K’rd. 1960s The construction of the motorway on ramp at Hobson Street results in the destruction of a large area around St James Square. [ intersection of Union-Hobson St-StJames’ & Wellington Sts.] Along with many other buildings in the area the wooden Gothic churches of St James in St James Square and St Thomas’s Church in Union St are demolished. 1963 The old Auckland Hospital Building [Philip Herepath 1877 ] is demolished and construction of the replacement building commenced. 1963 September 5th The Auckland City Council Carpark on the corner of Day St & Beresford St opens. 1963 Speed limit on City streets set at 30 miles per hour 1963 October The Pink Pussycat Club opens 1966 Grafton cemetery is altered by the construction of the new motorway. 4000 graves are shifted including that of Capt.Hobson. Over a million cubic metres of fill are dumped in Grafton Gully. 1968 The Mercury Theatre Company is formed [ Ironically the building it occupies as one of Auckland’s main live theatre venues is Auckland’s first purpose built Cinema – The Kings Theatre.] The first production is J.M.Barrie’s play “The Admirable Crichton” 1968 Amid some controversy a bronze fountain by Auckland sculptor Greer Twiss is installed in the park at the corner of K’rd & Symonds St.[extant]

		1970
					1970s the electric trolley bus system is discontinued – the overhead wires are taken down. 1971 Milne & Choyce Department Store presents to the City of Auckland a marble copy of Michangelo’s Moses. It is installed in Myers Park. [extant] 1973 The new Newton Post Office is opened by N.V.Douglas M.P 11 June 1973 [extant] 1973 August 14. The Car-parking building on the corner of France and Cross Streets is opened. Costing $1.5 Million and built on land owned by the Mutual Life and Citizens Assurance Company, the seven-story building is capable of parking 676 vehicles. To Construct it the “Karangahape Road Car Park Ltd” is formed by 40 K’rd businesses who agree to underwrite to operating costs for 10 years. After the opening the building is leased to the Auckland City Council for 40 years.[extant] 1978 Samoa House is built [ NZ Institute of Architects National Award ] Foundation stone laid by His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II; Head of State. 2 April 1978.[extant] 1979 The KG club, Auckland’s first Lesbian club relocates from Beach road to the corner of K’rd & Hereford street. Late 1970s The Carpenters Arms Hotel, Greys Avenue is demolished.

		1980
					1980s The Caledonian Pub on the corner of Symonds St & K’rd is demolished. 1980s The Sheraton Hotel is constructed on Symonds Street: The site of Partington’s windmill and one of Smith & Brown & Maples two Symonds St stores. mid 1980s George Courts department store closes Late 1980s the Farmers free bus service [ Beresford St-Hobson St-Queen St ] is discontinued. 1980s The intersection of Upper Queen St &K’rd is widened 1980s The 1909 National Bank building on K’rd is demolished. This results in a lot of bad publicity for the National Bank [ one of the direct results of this is their award winning conversion & restoration as a bank of the 1884 Synagogue in Princes Street ]. The National Bank builds and occupies new premises on the corner of Upper Queen St & K’rd. 1980s ARA House is constructed on the corner of Pitt St & Hopetoun Sts to serve as the headquarters of the Auckland Regional Authority. Cost over-runs connected with this building and controversy about overspending by the ARA in many areas results in the sale of this building. 1980s Levenes close their France St branch. This was the original hardware shop the national company developed from. 1989 May New Zealand’s first Gay Pride event is organised by the Isherwood Trust [ now the Auckland PRIDE Centre ] The Mardi Gras Ball takes place at the Sheraton Hotel in Symonds St

		1990
					1990-98 The K’rd area sees a period of economic growth due to the significant number of nightclubs established in the area. The centre of the Auckland Nightclub scene shifts from the down town area [ High Street ] up to K’rd. K’rd is transformed from being Auckland’s red-light district to being centre the nightclub scene. This complements Ponsonby Road’s role as the restaurant mile of the city. 1991 DTM Nightclub opens at 240 K’rd in the old Vogue Cinema which has been used for a number of years as a furniture depot by Farmers and before that as a flooring showroom. After cost over-runs due to the refurbishment of the building the Night club closes. 1993 Staircase Nightclub reopens at 240 K’rd- The staircase in one form or another has been one of the main Queer venues in Auckland. 1993 Legend opens. Between Legend & Staircase K’rd develops a major centre of the LGBT community in Auckland. 1990s France Street is renamed Mercury lane in honour of the now defunct Mercury theatre. 1990s The Howe street toilets are demolished and the Beresford St toilets are closed. The building in Bersford St stands unused for sometime before being converted into a Bar. 1990s The New Astor Hotel in Symonds St is demolished by the Auckland City Council and Symonds street is widened despite protest mid 1990s onwards Inner city living is on the increase encouraged by changes to the Auckland City Council Bylaws. Many apartments blocks are constructed along K’rd. Retail businesses enjoy an upturn in trade. 1995 Kamo opens at 382 K’rd. 1997 Auckland Pride Centre’s Coming Out Day festival in Beresford street. 1998 Creation of Beresford Square. 1998 Staircase closes: there is a discernible shift in the focus of the nightclub world from K’rd back down to the High Street area of town. 1998 Auckland Pride Centre’s Coming Out Day festival in Beresford square. 1990s George Courts Building redeveloped and restored. A forgotten sealed room is discovered from the period when the building was utilised as the Air Raid Central Command during the Second World War. 1990s Colmax menswear [ est 1929 ] closes down 1990s A unique species of snail is discovered in a patch of bush in Grafton gully. This is the only known habitat of these animals, which quite by chance escaped being destroyed by the motorway development in the 1960s. 1999 Legend closes

		2000
					2000 Auckland Pride Centre’s Coming Out Day festival in Beresford square. 2000 New pavement scheme for Symonds street. 2000 The Auckland PRIDE Centre opens in new premises at 281 K’rd. 2000 The Chinese community of Auckland present to the City of Auckland a granite statuary group of Five Goats. It is installed in Myers Park. [extant ] 2001 The St Helens Hospital building in Pitt St is demolished. Since been vacated by St Helens in 195_ this building has had many uses including being used as a Probation/ youth rehabilitation centre. A Residential & retail complex is built on the site. 2001 The 20th World InterPride Conference is held at the Sheraton Hotel. Co-hosted by the Auckland PRIDE Centre, Hero & Sydney Gay+Lesbian Mardi Gras. The Conference is opened by the Right Honourable Helen Clark. 2002 The Auckland City Council commences an upgrade of paving on K’rd between Queen Street and Pitt Street. [ extant ] 2002 Curved glass safety glass panels are installed on Grafton Bridge.[ extant ] 2002 Construction commences on new buildings for Auckland Hospital the 1963 Building now deemed unsafe by the earthquake regulations is to be become an Administration block. 2003 Rendells department store vacates the building it has occupied since 1904. 2003 The Karangahape Road Business Association organises the first K’rd Karnival Parade Saturday September 27th.

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