Conservation orders urged for churches, walls

Ambury's Dairy now Circus Circus, a popular cafe. Picture / Chris Skelton

Churches and Depression-era stone walls are on a list of Auckland sites tagged for stricter protection.

From a count of historic places ordered by Auckland City Council last year, nine sites have been identified for Category B heritage. More may be added once public submissions close next month.

The council will need to change its district plan before the new conservation orders become law. The list includes:

Ambury's Dairy, Mt Eden (pictured above)

One of the oldest-surviving buildings in Mt Eden, the dairy sold butter and milk from the early 1920s. The building is thought to date from between 1904 and 1905 and still has its original floor and tongue-and-groove walls. These days it is the premises of Circus Circus, a popular cafe. 

St Aidan's Church, Remuera

A group of keen worshippers in "Upper Remuera" found the land and the money to build a new Anglican church after being forced to hold services in rented accommodation or private homes.

Built in 1905, the church escaped possible demolition in 1962. Up to a third of the church is likely to be original.

Green Bay Mission Hall, Blockhouse Bay

In Auckland in the early 1900s, the annual migration of holidaymakers to Blockhouse Bay during summer filled churches to overflowing.

In 1912, Protestant denominations, including Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists, clubbed together to raise money for the hall, which opened for services in 1917.

Seawall at Blockhouse Bay

During the Depression, councils looked to the dole queue for cheap labour to carry out public works. Under a Government relief scheme in 1922, a 335m wall was built along the Blockhouse Bay foreshore to reclaim land for a public road.

St Joseph's Catholic Church, Grey Lynn

The church, with its free-standing spire-cum-bell tower topped with a large cross, is one of the most familiar architectural landmarks in inner-city Grey Lynn.

Built in 1961 on the site of the old St Joseph's Church, which was demolished, the building was one of the first in Auckland built to withstand earthquakes. Artworks include a front carved of Hinuera stone and a statue of Mary in the Lady Chapel sculpted from a single block of marble.

Tram shelter, Western Springs

Auckland City Council and the old Auckland Transport Board argued for four years over who should provide shelter for tram passengers along Great North Rd near the Museum of Transport and Technology.

The basalt shelter, first proposed in 1930, was completed in 1934 with the board and council sharing the cost. The council only agreed to contribute because the shelter would be "a distinct convenience" to people visiting a council reserve at Western Springs.

Pillars, gates, stone walls at Auckland College of Education, Mt Eden

The memorial gates honour the 52 teachers from the Auckland Education district who fought and died in World War I. Once again, unemployed workers were used to build the pillars and stone walls.

Memorial gates, Mt Eden Normal Primary School

Listed on a national register of war memorials, the gates were unveiled in 1924. The designer is unknown.

Cucksey's building, Mt Eden

The five shops on "Cucksey's corner" at Mt Eden and Stokes Rds were built about 1906 by grocer Alfred Cucksey just in time for the extended tram service that began along Mt Eden Rd in 1908.

Mr Cucksey was already an established businessman in the suburb, building one of its original grocery stores in 1873.

The first committee meeting of the Eden Epsom Tennis Club was held in Cucksey's store in 1886.