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)

(1851-1853 Great North Rd) After serving time with Northern Steamship Company, Scotsman J Crawford comes to Avondale and opens Crawford's Garage on Great North Road. This later becomes Morrison & Crawfords, then under Atlantic brand, and finally replaced by Mobil station by Battersby's when Mobil Oil bought out Atlantic.

Crawford went on to be a president of the ABA, master of the Titirangi Masonic Lodge, and founding member of the Avondale Cricket Club, among other honours. He died in September 1966. [Western Leader, 27 September 1966]

Whau bridge upgraded for heavy traffic. Until now, only one-way and wooden. "The temporary scoria surface was a test of skill for motorbike riders, three of whom skidded in gravelly crashes in the first week the bridge was open." [Peter Buffett, Western Leader, 26 September 1985]

Battersby funeral director established 1931, alongside what is now Avondale Auction House [Western Leader ad, 25 November 1971]

Tram service to Avondale inaugurated Saturday 1st February 1932 [NZ Herald]

Trams coming down to Rosebank Road in the 1930s rather than St Judes effectively sealed Avondale's fate to that of a township in two parts. Rosebank Road was made easier of tram access by the 1915 railway bridge linking (then) Station Road and Manukau Road, both now joined as Blockhouse Bay Rd.

"The shops on the south-east side of the Rosebank Road/Great North Road intersection were not built until about 1934, when trams came to the area. Mt Tait, who was the developer, invited school children to submit names for the block. The winning suggestion was 'Unity Buildings'. The name can still be seen on the concrete façade." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 91]

Robbie Robinson, of Dennis Carews, recalled the day the tram came off the tracks, and didn't stop at the terminus halfway up upper Rosebank Road. It kept on going, finally coming to a standstill across the intersection with Great North Rd. After this, they dug holes in Rosebank Road, and put wooden boards across the top, so if the tram came off the tracks again, its weight would smash the wood and send the front down the holes. [Conversation with Mr Robinson, 7 March 2001] "It crossed Great North Road, carving grooves in the concrete as it went. 'My sister said she was there. She said that it lurched from side to side. She thought that it was going to roll over.'" [M Abercrombie, interview, Avondale Oral History Project, 1990-1991; Challenge of the Whau, p. 72]

During the late 1930s, Gibson bakery (Great North Rd/Rosebank Road NW corner) owned by the Burton family and operated as a branch of their city business. It closed shortly after World War II. [Challenge of the Whau, p. 88]

From late 1930's to 1969, Fearon's Store on cnr Great North Rd and Rosebank Road used as Farmers Trading store branch.

By now, nine years after amalgamation, Auckland City has received complaints from Avondale residents concerning lack of facilities. The Mayor, opening the new Post Office on 19 August 1938 gives a speech detailing the improvements provided to Avondale since 1927. He asks for this information specifically from the Town Clerk's office [memos].

Charles Collier raises suggestion of removal of Avondale Primary School to reunite the two halves of the shopping centre. [Western Leader, 13 August 1968]

"In 1900 Avondale had about 5 shops. By 1939 there were nearly 40. This increase reflected not just growth in the local population, but also Avondale's importance as a shopping area for people in much of West Auckland." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 92]

Limited banking facilities were offered to the public of Avondale and district by the BNZ in a small agency near the police station before World War II [Western Leader, 16 June 1965]

W. John Tait President of ABA (Developer of Unity block). (Tait was on Avondale Roads Board and Borough Council prior to 1927, and was the 2nd Mayor of Avondale 1922-26. Thought by some sources to be the "Father of Avondale")

Earliest letter known from ABA, to Town Clerk, regarding public toilet/Plunket offices deputation.

The Avondale branch of the Labour Party appealed to Council in a letter of 1 April 1937 for employment opportunities to be created in Avondale, and gave as an example a public toilet needed. Later, they sent a deputation to speak directly with Council. This was originally suggested for either Crayford St or Racecourse Parade [letter from City Engineer, 7 February 1938], but was also deferred [letter from Town Clerk, 1 March 1938].

28 June 1938, Council received a petition from 169 residents of Avondale, including signatures from Tait and other businessmen, for a "convenience for Ladies and Gentlemen of the Avondale district and the travelling public." However, there were still no funds available [letter from City Engineer, 25 July 1938], and the project was deferred again to 1939/40 estimate round.

On 29 November 1939, the secretary of Avondale's Plunket Society branch wrote to the Town Clerk: "At a combined meeting of representatives from the Avondale branch of the Plunket Society, the Avondale Business-men's Association, Blockhouse Bay Improvement Society, Avondale South Women's Club, Avondale Women's Institute, Avondale Labour Party and Avondale Returned Servicemen's Association, held Tuesday, November 28, the urgent need for Plunket restrooms and public conveniences at Avondale was fully discussed and I was instructed to ask if the Council is prepared to help with this proposal and that a deputation be received from above mentioned bodies as soon as convenient."

The deputation went ahead on 14 December 1939. The ABA secretary, also secretary of this new Avondale Support Committee, advised Council that Tait was prepared to offer land on Rosebank Road in return for work on the toilet/Plunket rooms completed within a year.

Avondale Hotel building bought by Mr Albert Bailey, and named Avoncourt. "Avoncourt is listed in the AA Hotel guide as "2027 Great North Road, Avondale, 30 Beds, B.B." as Mr Bailey gave up the full board service in 1957. Up until it's demolition in 1967, Avoncourt only hotel between Symonds Street and Henderson. [Western Leader, 18 August 1965] Albert Bailey involved with the ABA as Secretary at least, and in the early 1960s was an Auckland City Councillor .

Letter to Town Clerk from City Engineer: "Mr Tait has kindly offered to donate to the [Plunket] society a site some 20 feet wide by 100 feet deep situate on the South side of Rosebank Road, some 3 chains East of its intersection with Great North Road, practically at the tram stop at the terminus. "I understand that Mr Tait's offer of the land is conditional upon the building being erected before the end of this year."

The project was approved by Council 28 June 1940, land transferred 24 September 1940.

Collier's Block of seven shops built on west side of Great North Road. "Building his own block of seven shops was quite a gamble. [Charles Collier] remembers keeping a large packing case empty just in case he was not successful. 'I was going to hawk the stock around the neighbourhood and at least recover my money that way.'" [Western Leader, 13 August 1968]

"This shop, let it be emphasized, had a warm place in the hearts of many West Auckland residents and Mr Collier Snr had a reputation for stocking everything from a needle to a swingletree. His shop, at its zenith, was the only hardware shop from Karangahape Rd to Warkworth." [Western Leader, 3 December 1970]

Avondale branch of Auckland Citizens and Ratepayers active. They write to Council about varied matters:

• Railway bridge railing safety and replacement
• Land subdivisions
• Drainage
• Suggested hospital in Avondale in a letter to Auckland Hospital Board and Council. Claimed to know of a suitable 22-acre site.

Likely precursor to later Residents and Ratepayers groups in Avondale (one in Waterview still flourished into the late 1940s), and the Community Committees.

"In the early 1950s Steeles built a large factory in upper Rosebank road between Great North Rd and Layard Street. Local women welcomed the employment opportunities it provided." [Challenge of the Whau, p. 74] Actually, Steeles was involved with purchasing the land for their factory in the 1940's.

In 1950s, Wingate St bus depot site now Avondale Rental Car Co. [M Butler report, Heritage Planning, Auckland City Council, 2001]

Charles Funnell opens business in Avondale, Avondale Furnishing and Home Appliance Centre. "A few years ago Mr Funnell won a competition for the highest sale of Prestcold refrigerators in the country. The prize was a trip to Australia, where he investigated the television market. This was in 1958, before television made an impact on New Zealand." [Western Leader, 17 March 1965]

J Broadbent starts plumber's merchant business in Avondale , in Rosebank Road. [Western Leader, 24 February 1965]

From Avondale Advance article, 26 April 1955: "From a cultural point of view Avondale is, without a doubt, the worst place in Auckland for its advancement or encouragement. In fact, it has nothing but a dilapidated building now used to screen pictures … The Businessmen's Association and other organisations interested in the district should combine and not rest until the Council takes steps to correct the present untenable state of affairs." Re the then Avondale Picture Theatre, re-named Grosvenor, and now Hollywood.

In June, 1955, J Broadbent moves his business to Great North Rd (Broadbent Hardware Ltd). The object in his hardware business, he said, "is to cater for local tradesmen and handymen in the western suburbs." [Western Leader, 24 February 1965]

Charles Collier President of ABA. Made suggestion that Avondale Primary School be replaced with a modern shopping centre. [Western Leader, 13 August 1968]

St Judes St telephone exchange built. [Challenge of the Whau]