Sylvia Park School

Maungarei - the archaeological story

This long and in-depth article tells us a lot about what archaeologists have learned about Maungarei.

Marutūahu Tribes - Ngāti Maru and Ngāti Pāoa

This Te Ara article tells us a little bit about two of the iwi that connect with this area.

Fall of Mokoia

Mokoia Pā was in Panmure. Gardens spread all the way along the Tāmaki River between Panmure and Otahuhu.

James Hamlin, 1860

James Hamlin was a missionary and early European farmer in this area.

Receipt for land, 1838

James Hamlin bought a large block of land from Ngāti Pāoa. The next section in the book has an English translation.

The horse called Carbine

Does that name remind you of anything?

Musket

Musket was another famous horse bred at Sylvia Park.

Tamaki Races

Somewhere between Panmure and Otahuhu, the Tamaki Races were held. Read the article to find out what happened.

The Sylvia Park Stud 1890

This is a description of a walk around the farm just after the announcement that it was to be sold.

Sylvia Park to be dispersed, 1890

In 1890, Sylvia Park was not a good business anymore and the horses were all sold.

Map of the Mount Wellington Area 1892

What do you recognise? What are the names that are used for places you recognise?

Hunt Club meeting at Sylvia Park, 1899

Hunt Club meeting at Sylvia Park, 1913

These pictures were taken when Sylvia Park was a stud farm. Look at the way people were dressed and what they're doing.

Map of the Mount Wellington Area 1920s

Which roads do you recognise? Where will the school be built? Where do you live?

Map of Auckland 1930s

Look closely, you will see some new streets appearing in Mt Wellington.

A Bird's Eye View in the 1940s

This was even before the army buildings were built. What are the clues you are you using to locate our school site?

Aerial view of Mt Wellington in 1946

This is a close up view looking down on the army stores where Sylvia Park shopping centre is now.

Mt Wellington in 1949

This was before our school was built. What can you see that you recognise?

Mt Wellington in 1949

This was before our school was built. Can you find the spot where it is going to be?

Mt Wellington in 1954

The school isn't there yet, neither is Longford Street. What is happening with that long strip of land?

Building the Motorway

It's 1956 and they're building the motorway. How do you think this changed this area?

A new school in Mt Wellington, 1957

A new school has recently opened! What can you see?

South-Eastern Auckland described in Te Ara

Here's a brief history of the industrial legacy in the area.

Map of Auckland 1950s

What has changed since the map of the 1920s? What is different from today?

Mt Richmond in the 1950s or 60s

This aerial view of Mt Richmond shows us a little bit of the suburb too.

Mt Wellington in 1962

Find our school in the bottom right hand corner. Can you see a new street close by that doesn't have an alleyway yet?

Mt Wellington in 1965

Can you find our school? Use the factories and the Mt Wellington Highway as guides to help you.

Photography of Sylvia Park sheds, about 1985

There were rows and rows of these sheds in the area where the shopping centre is now.

Countdown Corner, 1986

Look carefully at the shape of the building. Do you recognise these shops?

The motorway, 1989

Traffic jams to get onto the motorway, even then!

Waitangi Tribunal report, 1992

The land that now has the Sylvia Park Shops on it was sold for development.

Our neighbourhood in 1993

You can see our field in this aerial photograph.

Our neighbourhood in 1993

You can see our school in the top left hand corner of this picture.

Sylvia Park shops open 2006

Can you imagine Mt Wellington without the Sylvia Park shopping centre?

The Olives of Mt Richmond

This article tells us about the olive trees growing on Mt Richmond as they were in the early 2000s.

'New' names in Tāmaki Makaurau, 2014

Changing names and places didn't stop last century. Why do you think they changed these names in 2014?

Happy and Safe, 2015

You know all about this song!

Radio interview with Kiwi Income Property Trust

In 2016, the owners of the Sylvia Park Shopping Centre talk about what they plan to do.

Jacinda Ardern visits SPS in 2022

Do you remember when the prime minister came to visit? We were in the news!