Western Springs
Encyclopedia
Western Springs is a residential suburb
and park
in the west of the city of Auckland
in the north of New Zealand
. It is located four kilometres to the west of the city centre, situated to the north of State Highway 16
.
The suburb is dominated by the large park (featuring a lake with a variety of birdlife), within which are situated Auckland Zoo
, Western Springs Stadium
and M.O.T.A.T. (the Museum of Transport and Technology
). The park is the location of the annual Pasifika Festival, one of Auckland's most popular public events.
Across the road from the Zoo is the school of Western Springs College
, with a student population of around 1050. Some students attend Mount Albert Grammar School
. Catholic students commute to St Paul's College
or St Mary's College
, Marist College
or St Peter's College
.
s that lived in the stream. After colonisation, the area was part of a block of land farmed by a Scottish
settler called William Motions.
The area was called Western Springs to differentiate it from the Springs in the Auckland Domain
to the east of town. The main source of the water that feeds the Lake at Western Springs is rain falling on the slopes of the far off volcanoes of Three Kings
, Mount Albert
and Mount Eden
. It then runs underground for several miles through the lava flows, and emerges from the ground at a constant rate that is well filtered from the miles of scoria rocks.
As the city of Auckland
grew it found that well water was not sufficient. In the 1860s a pipe from the Domain Springs was constructed but in 1874 the city bought William Motions' mill and 120 acres (486,000 m²) of land including the spring. In 1875 the swampy ground was made into a 15 acre (6ha) artificial lake 6 feet in depth and capable of holding 22 million gallons of water. The scale of this back-breaking work is revealed by the fact that Mr. Blewdon and his men removed 20,000 cartloads of spoil from the site and used 7,850 cubic yards of earth to construct the embankment which was 40 feet wide at the base and 9 feet wide at the crest. They also excavated the 25 feet deep Engine Pond and dug a 60 foot long tunnel between the lake and the Engine House.
A pumphouse was designed by the City Engineer William Errington and built of brick. It was fitted with a steam engine, known as a beam engine
which is still in working order having been recently restored. The engine pumped water up to the two new reservoirs; one on the corner of Ponsonby Road and Karangahape Road
and the other in the block bordered by Khyber Pass, Symonds Street, Mount Eden Road and Burleigh Street from where the water was gravity fed down to the city.
The cost of maintaining the pump was high however and by the end of the 19th century, Auckland's growth required a much greater and more reliable source of fresh water. This coincided with pressure to safeguard the remaining native forests of the Waitakere Ranges
to the west of the city. Auckland City purchased land for large reservoirs in this fairly secluded area thus safeguarding both the water quality and the flora & fauna of the area. The height of the reservoirs above sea level meant pumping was kept to a minimum as the water could be gravity fed down to town.
This left the Western Springs area with no specific use. The fairly rough and uneven land was unsuitable for housing as apart from the Lake itself it contained large stretches of boggy ground. Unable to divest itself of the land the Auckland City Council was at a loss what to do with it. Some light industry and market gardens were developed along Great North Road and Chinamans hill [so-called because of the Chinese market gardeners] and an attempt was made to convert the boggy land around the lake into a park. However over the next thirty years or so most of the land deteriorated as it became overgrown and used for illegal rubbish dumping.
From the early 1920s onwards various developments took place; The Auckland City Council Zoological Gardens were established to the north of the lake. To the west (around the corner of Motions Road and Great North Road) a camping ground was set up (During World War II
it was converted into a transit camp for American servicemen]]). To the south of the lake was established a golf club (Chamberlain Park ) and to the west, land was set aside for Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Schools to service the growing suburbs of Westmere
and Point Chevalier
.
In 1953 a plan was put forward to use the area around the lake as an amusement park with a scenic railway, fairground and rollercoasters etc but this was soon discovered to be beyond the financial capabilities of the Auckland City Council.
In 1962 MOTAT (The Museum of Transport and Technology
) was established to the south east of the lake, the old pumphouse forming its centrepiece.
The council used some of the more usable land to construct council housing in the 1920s and in the 1930s sold much of the land previously used for market gardens to the government for state housing
. To the north of the Zoo was an area of mangrove swamp where the Western Springs creek reached the sea just by the Meola Reef
Lava outcrop. This was utilised as a landfill
dump and hence reclaimed during the 1950s and 1960s and developed as playing fields and an additional area for the MOTAT Airfield; the Sir Keith Park
Memorial Airfield (Motat 2) and is also the site of the Westpoint Performing Arts Center. In the 2000s the landfill was found to be emitting methane gas and was subsequently capped with clay.
After the war the population of the surrounding suburbs grew markedly and it became obvious that the untidy state of Western Springs was a definite embarrassment. As a wilderness of bogs full of rubbish, rats and mosquitoes, it was not only unattractive but a potential health hazard. In 1961 the Auckland City Council
embarked on developing the park
in earnest. The lake, which had become completely choked by introduced waterweed was reclaimed and the overgrown landscape was carefully cleared of weeds and rubbish.
By the 1980s major landscaping work had transformed the area from an eyesore to being one of Auckland's most attractive parks. New plantings were introduced to complement the mature trees from the 19th century and careful planting of the islands of the lake and the wetlands surrounding it have made it a successful breeding grounds for a large variety of waterfowl both native and exotic. Artworks by several New Zealand sculptors were sited in the park during 1980s & 1990s.
International music artists that have performed at Western Springs include Led Zeppelin
, Slade
, Status Quo, Elton John
, Rod Stewart
, David Bowie
, Fleetwood Mac
, KISS
, Bob Marley & The Wailers
, Dire Straits
, AC/DC
, Eurythmics
, Pink Floyd
, Jerry Lee Lewis
, U2
, New Audio Dynamite, Mick Jagger
, Guns N' Roses
, Paul McCartney
, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones
, Robbie Williams
, The Police
& The Black Eyed Peas
, among others.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
and park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in the west of the city of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in the north of 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...
. It is located four kilometres to the west of the city centre, situated to the north of State Highway 16
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
.
The suburb is dominated by the large park (featuring a lake with a variety of birdlife), within which are situated Auckland Zoo
Auckland Zoo
Auckland Zoo is a zoological garden in Auckland, New Zealand, situated next to Western Springs park not far from Auckland's central business district. It is run by the Auckland City Council with the Auckland Zoological Society as a supporting organisation....
, Western Springs Stadium
Western Springs Stadium
Western Springs Stadium is an entertainment venue in Auckland, New Zealand, that consists of a natural amphitheatre. During the winter it is used for club rugby union matches and over summer it is used for speedway. It is also occasionally used for large music concerts and festivals.Western Springs...
and M.O.T.A.T. (the Museum of Transport and Technology
Museum of Transport and Technology
The Museum of Transport and Technology is a museum located in Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. It is located close to the Western Springs Stadium, Auckland Zoo and the Western Springs Park. The museum has large collections of civilian and military aircraft and other land transport vehicles...
). The park is the location of the annual Pasifika Festival, one of Auckland's most popular public events.
Across the road from the Zoo is the school of 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...
, with a student population of around 1050. Some students attend Mount Albert Grammar School
Mount 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...
. Catholic students commute to 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...
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...
, Marist College
Marist College, New Zealand
Marist College is a Catholic girls high-school located in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches from year 7 through to Year 13 with a curriculum based on Roman Catholicism...
or St Peter's College
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
.
History
The Māori valued Waiorea (Western Springs) for the clean, clear spring water and the eelEel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
s that lived in the stream. After colonisation, the area was part of a block of land farmed by a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
settler called William Motions.
The area was called Western Springs to differentiate it from the Springs in the Auckland Domain
Auckland Domain
The Auckland Domain is Auckland's oldest park, and at 75 hectares one of the largest in the city. Located in the central suburb of Grafton, the park contains all of the explosion crater and most of the surrounding tuff ring of the Pukekawa volcano....
to the east of town. The main source of the water that feeds the Lake at Western Springs is rain falling on the slopes of the far off volcanoes of Three Kings
Three Kings, New Zealand
Three Kings refers to both a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, and the three-peaked volcano that it is named after. Three Kings should not be confused with the Three Kings Islands, located off the northern tip of New Zealand's North Island.- Suburb :...
, Mount Albert
Mount Albert, New Zealand
Mount Albert is a volcanic peak and suburban area in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. The suburb was Auckland's second, after Remuera, and was mostly settled by well-off families in the late 1800s and early 1900s...
and Mount Eden
Mount Eden
Mount Eden is the name of a cinder cone and surrounding suburb in Auckland City, New Zealand, situated five kilometres south of the city centre. The mountain is the highest natural point in the whole of Auckland...
. It then runs underground for several miles through the lava flows, and emerges from the ground at a constant rate that is well filtered from the miles of scoria rocks.
As the city of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
grew it found that well water was not sufficient. In the 1860s a pipe from the Domain Springs was constructed but in 1874 the city bought William Motions' mill and 120 acres (486,000 m²) of land including the spring. In 1875 the swampy ground was made into a 15 acre (6ha) artificial lake 6 feet in depth and capable of holding 22 million gallons of water. The scale of this back-breaking work is revealed by the fact that Mr. Blewdon and his men removed 20,000 cartloads of spoil from the site and used 7,850 cubic yards of earth to construct the embankment which was 40 feet wide at the base and 9 feet wide at the crest. They also excavated the 25 feet deep Engine Pond and dug a 60 foot long tunnel between the lake and the Engine House.
A pumphouse was designed by the City Engineer William Errington and built of brick. It was fitted with a steam engine, known as a beam engine
Beam engine
A beam engine is a type of steam engine where a pivoted overhead beam is used to apply the force from a vertical piston to a vertical connecting rod. This configuration, with the engine directly driving a pump, was first used by Thomas Newcomen around 1705 to remove water from mines in Cornwall...
which is still in working order having been recently restored. The engine pumped water up to the two new reservoirs; one on the corner of Ponsonby Road and Karangahape Road
Karangahape Road
Karangahape Road is one of the main streets in the central business district of Auckland, New Zealand. The massive expansion of motorways through the nearby inner city area - and subsequent flight of residents and retail into the suburbs - turned it from one of Auckland's premier shopping streets...
and the other in the block bordered by Khyber Pass, Symonds Street, Mount Eden Road and Burleigh Street from where the water was gravity fed down to the city.
The cost of maintaining the pump was high however and by the end of the 19th century, Auckland's growth required a much greater and more reliable source of fresh water. This coincided with pressure to safeguard the remaining native forests of the Waitakere Ranges
Waitakere Ranges
The Waitakere Ranges are a chain of hills in the Auckland metropolitan area, generally running approximately 25 km from north to south, 25 km west of central Auckland, New Zealand. The maximum elevation within the ranges is 474 m...
to the west of the city. Auckland City purchased land for large reservoirs in this fairly secluded area thus safeguarding both the water quality and the flora & fauna of the area. The height of the reservoirs above sea level meant pumping was kept to a minimum as the water could be gravity fed down to town.
This left the Western Springs area with no specific use. The fairly rough and uneven land was unsuitable for housing as apart from the Lake itself it contained large stretches of boggy ground. Unable to divest itself of the land the Auckland City Council was at a loss what to do with it. Some light industry and market gardens were developed along Great North Road and Chinamans hill [so-called because of the Chinese market gardeners] and an attempt was made to convert the boggy land around the lake into a park. However over the next thirty years or so most of the land deteriorated as it became overgrown and used for illegal rubbish dumping.
From the early 1920s onwards various developments took place; The Auckland City Council Zoological Gardens were established to the north of the lake. To the west (around the corner of Motions Road and Great North Road) a camping ground was set up (During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was converted into a transit camp for American servicemen]]). To the south of the lake was established a golf club (Chamberlain Park ) and to the west, land was set aside for Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Schools to service the growing suburbs of Westmere
Westmere, New Zealand
Westmere is a residential suburb of Auckland City, New Zealand. Westmere is under the local governance of the Auckland City Council. The suburb was originally a working-class area, containing some state houses; mostly private housing originating from housing development in the 1920s.It is known...
and Point Chevalier
Point Chevalier
Point Chevalier is a suburb and peninsula in the west of the city of Auckland in the north of New Zealand. It is located five kilometres to the west of the city centre on the southern shore of the Waitemata Harbour....
.
In 1953 a plan was put forward to use the area around the lake as an amusement park with a scenic railway, fairground and rollercoasters etc but this was soon discovered to be beyond the financial capabilities of the Auckland City Council.
In 1962 MOTAT (The Museum of Transport and Technology
Museum of Transport and Technology
The Museum of Transport and Technology is a museum located in Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. It is located close to the Western Springs Stadium, Auckland Zoo and the Western Springs Park. The museum has large collections of civilian and military aircraft and other land transport vehicles...
) was established to the south east of the lake, the old pumphouse forming its centrepiece.
The council used some of the more usable land to construct council housing in the 1920s and in the 1930s sold much of the land previously used for market gardens to the government for state housing
State housing
State housing is the system of public housing offered to New Zealand residents on low to moderate incomes. Some 66,000 houses are managed by Housing New Zealand Corporation, most of which are owned by the government.-The Liberal Government:...
. To the north of the Zoo was an area of mangrove swamp where the Western Springs creek reached the sea just by the Meola Reef
Meola Reef
The Meola Reef, or Te Tokaroa Reef in Māori is a lava flow forming a reef peninsula across part of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, New Zealand. It was formed 20,000 years ago from the final portion of a 10 kilometer long lava flow that originated from the distant Three Kings volcano...
Lava outcrop. This was utilised as a landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
dump and hence reclaimed during the 1950s and 1960s and developed as playing fields and an additional area for the MOTAT Airfield; the Sir Keith Park
Keith Park
Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC, RAF was a New Zealand soldier, First World War flying ace and Second World War Royal Air Force commander...
Memorial Airfield (Motat 2) and is also the site of the Westpoint Performing Arts Center. In the 2000s the landfill was found to be emitting methane gas and was subsequently capped with clay.
After the war the population of the surrounding suburbs grew markedly and it became obvious that the untidy state of Western Springs was a definite embarrassment. As a wilderness of bogs full of rubbish, rats and mosquitoes, it was not only unattractive but a potential health hazard. In 1961 the Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council was the local government authority representing Auckland City, New Zealand, and was amalgamated into the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. It was an elected body representing the 404,658 residents of the city...
embarked on developing the park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in earnest. The lake, which had become completely choked by introduced waterweed was reclaimed and the overgrown landscape was carefully cleared of weeds and rubbish.
By the 1980s major landscaping work had transformed the area from an eyesore to being one of Auckland's most attractive parks. New plantings were introduced to complement the mature trees from the 19th century and careful planting of the islands of the lake and the wetlands surrounding it have made it a successful breeding grounds for a large variety of waterfowl both native and exotic. Artworks by several New Zealand sculptors were sited in the park during 1980s & 1990s.
International music artists that have performed at Western Springs include Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Slade
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
, Status Quo, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
, KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae, ska and rocksteady band formed by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963. Additional members were Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Cherry Smith and Aston and Carlton Barrett...
, Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
, AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, New Audio Dynamite, Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
, The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
& The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
, among others.