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)

"By the turn of the turn of the century a permanent high wooden bridge of narrow span crossed the Whau." [Peter Buffett, Western Leader, 26 September 1985] This was single span, and by the 1920s was in need of replacement. Finally replaced in the 1930s.

The site of the shop on the corner of Crayford Street and Great North Road which had in the nineteenth century housed the Morris brothers general store was redeveloped in the twentieth century by Francis Kneebone to become a billiard saloon and bakery. (c.1909)

"In the Rosebank Road area a shop on the site now occupied by the Public Library was operated for much of the period between 1900 and 1950 as a general store. The best known owners were the Fisher family, who had the business in the 1930s." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 88]

A. W. Page had the Page's Building constructed.

Geddes Terrace behind the building also formed in separate development.

In 1903, the land between Page's Building and the corner of Crayford St and Great North Road (1994 - 2000 Great North Rd) was part of a farm and stables connected with the Jockey Club. 1910, a wooden shop is known, beside the police station. This became a brick building owned by Robert Joseph Alley, chemist in 1911. An addition to the immediate north of it became later the site for chemists Henderson (until 1980s) and Peace (1980s-1990s). [R Butler report, Heritage Planning, Auckland City Council, 2001]

"A supply of gas from the Auckland Gas Works was piped into the central area of Avondale. It allowed some street lamps to be installed. A man was employed to light them at dusk and extinguish them at midnight. [Challenge of the Whau, p. 59]

"In 1904 Mr W Page offered to present the Road Board with an ornamental lamp. He suggested that it be mounted on a pedestal and surrounded by a drinking trough for horses. The Board accepted … site … at the intersection of St Jude's Street, St George's Road, Wingate Street, and Great North Road. The structure was a feature of the area for a number of years." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 59]

" … in 1904 the Methodists opened their own church building in upper Rosebank Road, where the Nafanua Hall is today." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 100]

"The [Road] Board set local shopping hours. Businesses were required to be open on Saturday morning and closed on Wednesday afternoons. Billiard saloons were not allowed to be open after 10.30 at night. Before a licence was issued to a saloon operator, the Police Department was consulted." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 53]

"On the north-west corner of Rosebank Road and Great North Roads, was a general store, opened about 1910. The first owner was a D Robertson. He expanded his business to include a bakery. The bakehouse was situated a little to the north along Great North Rd, about where Battersby's funeral parlour is now."

Avondale goes dry, and the Avondale Hotel loses its licence. It became the Avondale Post Office. "The Hotel was made into the Post Office (1912). It was a beautiful looking place inside. All the counter was polished and done with brass - that must have been where the bar used to be. The Post Office was also the manual exchange. [Section of Avondale Oral Histories, 1990/1991]

"The old bakehouse (behind formerly Morrisons on Crayford St/Gt North Rd corner), was converted in 1908 into billiard rooms, using tables from the former Avondale Hotel. Kneebone owned both the hairdressers and the billiard hall at the time." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 75]

"Motion passed to form footpath on both sides of Great North Road from Blake St (St Judes) to Brown St (Rosebank Road)." [Avondale Road Board minutes, 27 March 1912]

Brown Street being constructed. Talk of Rosebank Road continuation [Avondale Road Board minutes, 12 June 1912]

Station superette (cnr Roberton and Browne St) built 1912/1913. Architect Hugh Grierson. Later, a second storey added before 1927) as living quarters. Has been a grocers, drapers, and now dairy. [Mike Butler report, Historic Planning, Auckland City Council, 2001]

In 1912-14 the Titirangi Masons Lodge was formed. In 1919, they bought the land at 69 Rosebank Road, and later built the Masonic Hall. [Mike Butler report, Historic Planning, Auckland City Council, 2001]

Fred Bluck & Son block built 1915 by Fred Bluck - JP, Avondale orchardist, clerk of the Avondale Road Board, real estate agent, previously a station master and storekeeper. He arrived in Avondale at the turn of the century. He and his son built the block opposite the station on Browne Street to take advantage of the railway traffic, the principal mode of transport in and out of Avondale at the time. Bluck set up "Fred Bluck & Son" land agents in the block (previously located in Blake St - St Judes). The Bluck Buildings represent the hoped-for focal point for Avondale's shopping centre prior to the widespread use of the motor car. The BNZ open their first Avondale agency there, as a receiving office only. The Road Board later petitioned in 1920 for this to be extended to a full branch of the bank. [Mike Butler report, Historic Planning, Auckland City Council, 2001]

(BNZ apparently opened and closed nine times between 1915 and present day. One location was at the end of the Greys building opposite Battersby's).

Other business in the block: CM Thorne, bootmaker; Allen M Hume, solicitor, and Bluck land agents. [Mike Butler report, Historic Planning, Auckland City Council, 2001]

City to Mt Albert tram service begins, 1 September 1915 [NZ Herald]

"From about 1915 ,,, horse buses serving Avondale had been replaced by motor buses. Mostly these were fairly small vehicles, carrying about fifteen people. " [Challenge of the Whau, p. 71]

Opposite Avondale Station was Avondale Boot Factory [The News, c.1915]

Blacksmith's shop [Perry's Avondale Shoeing Forge] on Gt North Road built, entrance at Geddes Tce [Avondale Road Board minutes, 5 April 1916] This could have become Trigg's garage [by 1920s] , later Avondale Auction House and Avondale Spiders. "Before you let your gig or trap go too far, run along to W.B. Perry. He's the cheapest and the best - yes, by far - Wheelwright, Coachbuilder, Agricultural, Shoeing and General Smith." [Advertisement in The News, 11 November 1916]

Myer's blacksmith in St Judes Street the rival: "Since we commenced business in Avondale we have built over one hundred carts and sulkies for the district.; We guarantee you better value than you can get elsewhere. Horse Shoeing, Ploughs made to order. All Kinds of Agricultural Implements Repaired." [Advertisement in The News, 11/11/1916. Both examples from Challenge of the Whau, p. 73]

In 1916 an Avondale motor mechanic was advertising his services as a 'bicycle repairer'.[Challenge of the Whau, p. 74]

"In 1920, Mr Jenkins said, Avondale was split into three. There was a group of shops at the railway, another in the present shopping area and the main centre was at the junction of Great North Rd, St George Rd, St Jude's St and Wingate St. This was Avondale - a grocer's shop, a post office and a town hall. "It was a real sleepy hollow where dogs could safely sleep in the middle of the road without disturbance from traffic or people.

"The only exit from Avondale in those days was by train which ran to Auckland and took passengers to the back of the Central Post Office, where the main Auckland station was situated." [Mount Albert and Pt Chevalier News, 16 December 1963]

"In 1920, [the Road Board] determined that all shops, garages and factories in the district were to be constructed of brick." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 54]

"In the early 1920s there were at least two taxi proprietors operating in Avondale. Mr Goodman, who also had a confectionery shop between Crayford and St Jude's Street, advertised 'Cars for hire, day or night'." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 72]

"During the 1920s a number of commercial garages were established in the district…. Stewart's, Trigg's, In St Jude's Street was Bamford's Avondale Service Station. A 1926 Automobile Association guide stated that: 'This garage is situated below the railway crossing on the hill above Avondale on the road to Mt Albert. Watch out for trains.'" [Challenge of the Whau, p. 74]

During the 1920s and most of 1930s, Robertson bakery on Rosebank Rd/Great North Rd (NW) owned by S Gibson.

1920 W Alexander Macferson had a second-hand dealer licence approved with a "favourable police report" by the Avondale Road Board. During 1920s he operated a furniture dealers shop from the Bluck building along with Geoffrey Shaw, fruiter, Elisha Hale, grocer and Thomas Samuel, land agent, who had taken over Bluck's business. Macferson's "workingman's" cottage is presently still in existence, at the northern corner of Crayford St and Layard St. He later moved his business to the corner of Crayford Street and Great North Road. [Mike Butler report, Heritage Planning, Auckland City Council, 2001]

Local authority now the Avondale Borough Council.

16 March 1922 - Pages Building now owned by Arthur William Frederick Amos, who runs "The Spot" Cash Grocery Store (with son) for the next 45 years. In 1937, part of the land at the back of the shop taken for Public Works - the telephone exchange later completed in 1958.

In 1922 the Binsted abattoir yards in New Lynn were closed down when the New Lynn Borough Council took over the land to develop it into Rewa Park. Soon after the yards were moved to Westfield and Binsted sold the butcher's shop in Avondale to Hellaby's. [Western Leader, 2 May 1967]

Borough Council begin plans for new Town Hall. Older one jacked up and moved to site next to where new Hall built. "Before the old Avondale hall was moved there was a shop between it and Binsted's butchery. For a time it was used by a tailor. In the early 1920s a Mr George used the premises. He advertised his services as a family photographer, a picture framer and a maker of guitars." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 75]

In 1923, the hall (1856 - 1860 Great North Road) was built as a billiard saloon. [Mike Butler report, Heritage Planning, Auckland City Council, 2001]

The internal combustion engine had been threatening for a long time but local owners of motor cars seldom strayed far from home because of the continuing atrocious condition of the roads that made any lengthy journeys a major expedition. In May 1923 the North Suburban Railway and Highways League, a local transport pressure group, together with representatives of the various Boroughs and Town Boards determined to have the main road to Auckland made of a permanent surface. Engineer's reports and costings were prepared and the League waited on the Mayor of Auckland who convened a meeting of the City Council, Local Bodies, and the Main Highways Board. The whole scheme for "the concrete road" was approved on February 28, 1924. [Tracks and Trains Through Henderson, by David Lowe, p. 30]

Charles Collier opens hardware store on east side of Great North Road, near Rosebank Road intersection.

"In 1924 … (due to dangers of St Judes railway crossing) … signs were erected advising motorists that it was safer to use the route via upper Rosebank Road." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 74]

Great North Road sealed and concreted.

Avondale Town Hall completed (later Hayward's cinema 1930-1954, Grosvenor from 1954-1966, and Hollywood until present day.)

9 February 1925 - manual telephone exchange opened in Avondale with just 28 subscribers. By 1929, this has increased to 160. [From speech by H.G.R Mason, MP, at opening of Avondale Post Office, 1938]

"By 1925 a number of motor bus companies were operating from Avondale. They included the General Omnibus Company, The Mount Eden Bus Company, the Progressive Bus Company, and Thomas' Buses." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 71]

Fearon block of shops built (NW Rosebank/Great North Rd intersection). From late 30s to 1969 this block included Avondale branch of Farmers Trading Co. [Challenge of the Whau, p. 91]

"The construction of 2 large blocks of shops will be started next month at the corner of Great North Road and Rosebank Road" [NZ Herald, 19 January 1926]

Meanwhile in Auckland city during 1924 there exploded upon an unsuspecting public and an unprepared Tramways Board the motor bus, releasing a period of chaotic city transport. Private motor bus operators engaged in unbridled rivalry with each other and Tramways, turning Queen Street into a circus and giving the public unbelievable services with price wars for two years until the City Council brought in a programme of licensing that once again brought order to the streets. The year was 1926 and with the spice gone out of the business many of the bus operators were happy to sell out to the City Council. Others went further afield to search for passengers and their exodus from the central city trade coincided with the completion of "the concrete road" to Henderson. The Railways Annual Report issued in 1926 showed that Henderson sold an all time high at 151 thousand passenger journeys, but within a year, with the motor bus firmly established, this figure tumbled to 89,761 and a complete new era in railroading was begun. [Tracks and Trains Through Henderson, by David Lowe, pp 30-31]

September. With the Avondale Borough Council virtually out of funds for much needed roads and drainage projects, the residents of Avondale/Blockhouse Bay voted by a margin of over 700 to amalgamate with Auckland City. "It [Avondale] is the dirtiest suburb of all Auckland's suburbs, the most bankrupt due to muddle on the part of past administrations. The engineer has admitted that he has never been allowed to complete any work. For five years I have fought their battles to get efficient administration. Some of the residents have my deepest respect; others I would not touch with a forty-foot pole." [H Tiarks, last Avondale Borough meeting, 18 August 1927, as reported by Auckland Star]

Stewart's garage was in Great North Road between Racecourse Parade and Rosebank Road. [Challenge of the Whau, p.74] 18 August 1927 - "Fire, which broke out at about 11.30 last evening, destroyed Stuart's service garage, Great North road, Avondale, together with eight of the nine cars which were stored in it. Residents in the locality were awakened by the sound of an explosion, probably caused by the bursting of a tin of benzine. "The building was of galvanised iron with wooden frame-work and when the local volunteer brigade under Superintendent Watson arrived, it was enveloped in flames. Stuart's garage is the largest in the district, and is situated a few yards past the Avondale Post Office. It is understood it was closed up for the night early in the evening, and the cause of the outbreak is a mystery." [NZ Herald, 19 August 1927]

By 1927, the two storeyed shop at #25 Rosebank Road across Roberton Road was complaining of a lack of business with trade having gone [from railway station area] to the main Great North Road. Blame laid on increasing use of private motor cars as averse to railway travel. [Mike Butler report, Heritage Planning, Auckland City Council, 2001]