Grey Lynn
Encyclopedia
Grey Lynn is an inner residential suburb of Auckland City
, New Zealand
, located three kilometres to the west of the city centre. Originally a separate borough, Grey Lynn amalgamated with Auckland City in 1914.
Grey Lynn is centred around 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 1914 the land was drained and levelled for playing fields. The park is home to the annual Grey Lynn Park Festival, which attracts around 10,000 visitors on the third Saturday in November.
The character of the area is often seen as "arty", and one of being a "traditional home to free-thinkers and anti-establishment types".
(14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898), Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony (South Africa), Premier of New Zealand, and, towards the end of his life, Member Of Parliament for Auckland West.
The original subdivision was 900 acres (3.6 km²), which is still the formal extent of Grey Lynn. Most of the houses were built between the 1880s and the beginning of the First World War. Very few of the houses have been completely replaced by new structures.
Williamson Avenue and Crummer Road are two of the major streets in Grey Lynn. James Williamson and Thomas Crummer were joint owners of a farm in the area. In 1883 Williamson and Crummer sold the property to the Auckland Agricultural Company. The Surrey Hills farm was subdivided into 272 building sections to form the neighbourhood between Surrey Crescent and the southern end of Ponsonby Road. Shops are located at the intersection of Great North Road and Williamson Avenue.
The inner city of Auckland became rundown starting in the 1950s, and the low rents in places like Grey Lynn and Ponsonby
attracted students and immigrant workers from the Pacific Islands. Grey Lynn developed a Polynesia
n flavour. Although in recent years this has greatly diminished, there are still a large number of Tongan and Samoan churches in the area.
Many of the homes in Grey Lynn were renovated beginning in the 1990s,, and housing prices increased. Lower-end retail enterprises have gradually been replaced with major corporate projects such as Woolworths Grey Lynn, the Subway Sandwiches Restaurant development in the Civic Video Building, Soul Thai Takeaway & Delivery, and other boutique shops. The influx of middle-class people has resulted in a reduction of student flats and the slow but steady displacement of Polynesian families. A number of recent housing developments in the suburb have attracted controversy due to their contribution to an increase in population density.
roots, though the appeal has broadened through the decades.
, and Western Springs College
. Catholic students attend St Paul's College
(boys) or St Mary's College
(girls).
Grey Lynn Park is the home ground of the Richmond Rovers
rugby league club.
At the corner of Crummer Road and Ponsonby Road stands the large 1890s Italianate Mansion of George Allen, a saddle and harness maker. "Allendale" is a local landmark, having been successively a doctor's surgery, Maori girls hostel, boarding house, refuge for alcoholic men, and a restaurant. In the 1990s it was purchased by the ASB Community Trust as its headquarters and was restored.
Carlile House stands at 84 Richmond Road. Built in 1886 as an industrial school named the Costley Training Institute, it is now abandoned and vandalised. The original stables are still visible on the Chamberlain Street side.
Auckland City
Auckland City was the city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand. On 1 November 2010 it was amalgamated into the wider Auckland Region under the authority of the new Auckland Council...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, located three kilometres to the west of the city centre. Originally a separate borough, Grey Lynn amalgamated with Auckland City in 1914.
Grey Lynn is centred around 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 1914 the land was drained and levelled for playing fields. The park is home to the annual Grey Lynn Park Festival, which attracts around 10,000 visitors on the third Saturday in November.
The character of the area is often seen as "arty", and one of being a "traditional home to free-thinkers and anti-establishment types".
History
Grey Lynn is named for Sir George GreyGeorge Edward Grey
Sir George Grey, KCB was a soldier, explorer, Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony , the 11th Premier of New Zealand and a writer.-Early life and exploration:...
(14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898), Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony (South Africa), Premier of New Zealand, and, towards the end of his life, Member Of Parliament for Auckland West.
The original subdivision was 900 acres (3.6 km²), which is still the formal extent of Grey Lynn. Most of the houses were built between the 1880s and the beginning of the First World War. Very few of the houses have been completely replaced by new structures.
Williamson Avenue and Crummer Road are two of the major streets in Grey Lynn. James Williamson and Thomas Crummer were joint owners of a farm in the area. In 1883 Williamson and Crummer sold the property to the Auckland Agricultural Company. The Surrey Hills farm was subdivided into 272 building sections to form the neighbourhood between Surrey Crescent and the southern end of Ponsonby Road. Shops are located at the intersection of Great North Road and Williamson Avenue.
The inner city of Auckland became rundown starting in the 1950s, and the low rents in places like Grey Lynn and Ponsonby
Ponsonby, New Zealand
Ponsonby is an inner-city suburb of Auckland City located 2 km west of the Auckland CBD, in the North Island of New Zealand. The suburb is oriented along a ridge running north-south, which is followed by the main street of the suburb, Ponsonby Road....
attracted students and immigrant workers from the Pacific Islands. Grey Lynn developed a Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n flavour. Although in recent years this has greatly diminished, there are still a large number of Tongan and Samoan churches in the area.
Many of the homes in Grey Lynn were renovated beginning in the 1990s,, and housing prices increased. Lower-end retail enterprises have gradually been replaced with major corporate projects such as Woolworths Grey Lynn, the Subway Sandwiches Restaurant development in the Civic Video Building, Soul Thai Takeaway & Delivery, and other boutique shops. The influx of middle-class people has resulted in a reduction of student flats and the slow but steady displacement of Polynesian families. A number of recent housing developments in the suburb have attracted controversy due to their contribution to an increase in population density.
Events
The Grey Lynn Park Festival is a music, food, and crafts event held in early summer in Grey Lynn Park. The event celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009. The event, managed by a non-profit trust and supported by stallholder fees and a Council grant, usually attracts several tens of thousands of visitors. It started as a local community get-together with working-class and PacifikaPacifika
Pacifika is a band formed by Silvana Kane, a Peruvian born singer, formerly of Canadian pop hit band West End Girls, and accomplished actress with a love of flamenco, electronica, and textured percussion; Adam Popowitz, a Canadian bred guitarist adept at new wave, classical, and pop, and a producer...
roots, though the appeal has broadened through the decades.
Education and sports
Secondary schools serving the area include Auckland Girls Grammar School, Mount Albert Grammar SchoolMount Albert Grammar School
Mount Albert Grammar School, or MAGS, is a co-educational secondary school in Central Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches from year 9 to year 13. Mount Albert Grammar is one of the largest secondary schools in the country...
, and Western Springs College
Western Springs College
Western Springs College is a co-educational state secondary school in Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches students from years 9 to 13 and is located near both Western Springs Park and Auckland Zoo...
. Catholic students attend St Paul's College
St. Paul's College, Auckland
St Paul's College is a college for year 7 to 13 boys and offers a Catholic education to its students. It is located in the central Auckland suburb of Ponsonby. The school originates from 1903 when the Marist Brothers opened Sacred Heart College, Auckland on the site...
(boys) or St Mary's College
Saint Mary's College Auckland
St Mary's College is a year 7 - 13 integrated Catholic girls' high school situated at 11 New Street, Ponsonby, Auckland.-History:St Mary’s College is the oldest existing secondary school for girls in Auckland and one of the oldest existing schools in New Zealand...
(girls).
Grey Lynn Park is the home ground of the Richmond Rovers
Richmond Rovers
The Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club is a rugby league club based in Grey Lynn, New Zealand. The premier team is called the Richmond Bulldogs and compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.-Bartercard Cup:...
rugby league club.
Transport
The suburb is served by public transport. It lies within walking distance of the central business district via Ponsonby. Buses run down Great North Road, Richmond Road, and Williamson Avenue.Notable buildings
The former Borough Council Chambers and Fire Station building stands at the Ponsonby Road end of Williamson Avenue. This brick building dating from 1889, was designed by John Mitchell. It resembles many American fire stations of the period.At the corner of Crummer Road and Ponsonby Road stands the large 1890s Italianate Mansion of George Allen, a saddle and harness maker. "Allendale" is a local landmark, having been successively a doctor's surgery, Maori girls hostel, boarding house, refuge for alcoholic men, and a restaurant. In the 1990s it was purchased by the ASB Community Trust as its headquarters and was restored.
Carlile House stands at 84 Richmond Road. Built in 1886 as an industrial school named the Costley Training Institute, it is now abandoned and vandalised. The original stables are still visible on the Chamberlain Street side.
External links
- Grey Lynn Online (business association website)
- Grey Lynn Park Festival