A Timeline History of the Avondale Shopping Centre and the Avondale Business Association: 1840 - 1997. Researched and compiled by Lisa Truttman, Avondale-Waterview Historical Society. More information in Heart of the Whau (originally published 2003)

"It was in the beginning of the seventies that the Great North Road was formed and metalled from near the Mental Hospital to the Whau Bridge. It was the first formed and metalled road in the district." ["Events in the Early History of Avondale", author unknown, from 1920s/early 1930s, Auckland Public Library]

"Between 1870 and 1880, Avondale was practically a day's journey from Auckland. Farmers had to drive their produce to market through Grey Lynn over very rough roads." ["History of Avondale" class project, Avondale College pamphlet collection, 1952]

"A temporary and unreliable planked bridge was present [across the Whau] in the 1870s to carry the very light traffic in what was still an extremely isolated and sparsely settled area. Most heavy freight being moved by water." [Peter Buffett, Western Leader, 26 September 1985]

The second hotel was burned down on December 17, 1872. On 4 July 1873 a new two-storey hotel, was opened.

Third post office now at Morris' store. [Challenge of the Whau, p. 36]

Express coach bus between Auckland and Avondale. This later replaced by horse buses. [Mrs. D M Davy, The History of Avondale essay, The Advance, unknown date]

"About 1873 a Mr Phipps made an unsuccessful venture with a bus service and when this failed an express cart was used by a Mr Hazel." [D Ringrose, 1940, Challenge of the Whau, p. 22]

Surveying began for the Kaipara railway which would ultimately pass through Avondale (1880).

"A road through the Mount Albert Highway District connects the Whau with the Mt Eden side of Auckland. The Presbyterian Church, in the centre of the township, is a neat building; and a public hall was built about 6 years ago, in which the Episcopalian Church holds divine services every Sunday. A school with about 50 pupils is taught by a first class certified teacher and his assistant.

"A spacious hotel was erected here recently, offering accommodation second to none in the province, outside of the city. There are three stores, a carpenter, and two smiths shops. An express plies daily once each way, by the Great North Road; and, by way of Mount Albert, an omnibus twice." [description of the Whau by John Buchanan, "The Whau Village", Wise's NZ Post Directory 1874-75]

"It was perhaps about this time that Henry Peck established next to the new hotel in Wingate Street his 'Pioneer Bakery and General Store'." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 35]. This was later acquired by Page as a branch of the Kingsland store, until the Pages Building later. [Avondale Primary Centennial booklet, 1970]

"The first road formed in Avondale was Rosebank Road, to Wharf Road (Ash St)." [Mrs. D M Davy, "The History of Avondale", Avondale Advance, unknown date]

Population of Whau Highway District: 269 [1878 census]

"Another deputation will wait on the Minister of Public Works on the subject of the proposed railway station at the Whau. It is affirmed that the sale of the proposed station is inconveniently situated for goods and passenger traffic, because it is distant from the centre of population, that no proper road has yet been made to the place [note: Browne St, or East Rosebank Road, only came into existence as more than a track up the hill in 1880, in time for the railway station - M Butler report], and that in other respects it is inconvenient of access. The settlers urge that the site of the proposed station should be two or three hundred yards further on the line, where it would front the New North Road, would be more accessible for the bulk of the people, and would be contiguous to a well-metalled road. The proprietor of the land at the spot indicated has, we understand, expressed his willingness to give sufficient land for a Railway Station free of charge. [Evening Star,20 December 1878]

"In the early 1880s a Mr Morley had a shop on the southeast corner of the St Jude's Street/Great North Road intersection. Binsted's butchery was operating from the same premises a few years later."[Challenge of the Whau, p. 35-36]

Auckland-Helensville railway came through the Whau (March 29, 1880). The post office is combined with the railway station. " … a timetable of two mixed trains daily except Sunday to Avondale, continuing to Glen Eden on Tuesdays and Fridays." [Source name unknown - in AWHS collection and Avondale Public Library]

In its first year of business Whau station issued 1485 passenger tickets, handled 5190 tons of goods and earned a revenue of 355 pounds [Tracks and Trains Through Henderson, by David Lowe]

Paterson's horse-buses flourishing (1880). "These buses supplied the district with transport from Auckland to Avondale for some forty years. When the trams commenced running to Kingsland in 1903, these buses continued to run between Kingsland and Avondale. Some were double-deckers, pulled by six horses, and carried 25 to 30 passengers. Return fare from Avondale to City 1/6d. It took a team of 40 horses to keep the service running three times a day." [Avondale Primary Centennial booklet, 1970]

"[Paterson's service] brought the suburb into closer contact with the City and the arrival of the buses from there each day was an event of considerable importance to the local people, who were anxious to hear news from Auckland ["History of Avondale", Avondale college class project, Pamphlet Collection, 1952]

"Grey Lynn Stables and Avondale Stables were deadly rivals and would do almost anything to gain the upper hand over each other, said Mr [Gordon] Barnaby of Barnaby's Bookshop, Pt Chevalier. There was no service from the city past Grey Lynn except for these horse-drawn buses in those days. However, their end came with the extension of the tram service from Auckland." [Western Leader, 13 June 1967]

Regular horse-drawn bus service begins. The Herald says, "a magnificent line of coaches drawn by well-conditioned horses that would be credible to any service in the world." 4 3-horse buses carrying some 18 passengers. A famous double-decker drawn by five horses, carrying 35 and used on businessmen's run to and from City. Buses completed Avondale to City journey in 1 hour. After completing 14 mile round trip, horses spelled for rest of day. Horses cost 10 pounds sterling each unbroken from Australia, working life of eight years. (Sinking of Elingamite off Three Kings Islands, 1903, drowned dozens of horses bound for the Mt Albert bus service,)

Whau School (shortly Avondale Primary School) opened on current site. The school began at the Presbyteriuan Church in 1860, then transferred to the public hall in 1868.

Local Authority from June: Avondale Roads Board. Avondale no longer offically called the Whau.

"In 1882 a Mr Potter was operating a service long the Great North Road. About the same time the Northern Omnibus Company started a service along the New North Road from its headquarters near the corner of Wingate Street and Great North Road. After an uncertain start and considerable competition from other operators such as the Grey Lynn Stables the service became a very successful one." [Challenge of the Whau, p.22]

By 1882, three mixed trains (passengers & goods) ran each way daily between Auckland and Kumeu, leaving the city at 7.15am, 11 and 4.30 pm. [Tracks and Trains Through Henderson, by David Lowe]

In this period, the only transport for Pt Chevalier residents to the City was by Potter's Horse Coach from Avondale passing through the Hall corner. The driver would sound a bugle as he approached the Point and again at the Northern Hotel to hurry along the laggards. [Pt Chevalier Centenary, A H Walker]

In 1886 James Binsted opens butchery on the corner of St Georges Rd and Great North Rd. Also built an abattoir on the present site of Rewa Park in New Lynn. Cattle for the yards were driven across the city from Remuera via Avondale to the yards. [Western Leader, 2 May 1967]

Third Avondale Hotel burns down. Replaced by brick building which lasts until 1967.

Avondale Jockey Club formed, in conjunction with the Avondale Hotel. The third hotel burns down, and is replaced with one constructed of brick and with solid kauri beams. This building was to survive into the next century, until 1967.