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The great War for New Zealand, Waikato 1800-2000 / Vincent O’Malley
On 12 July 1863 British Imperial Army troops crossed the Mangatāwhiri River which marked the boundary between British occupied territory and land under the authority of the Kingitanga (the Māori King...
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Auckland’s 1960s American-style shopping malls
New Zealand’s first American-style shopping centre LynnMall opened on 30 October 1963. A 110 foot tower with a flashing red beacon marked the site which had previously been a swampy, seven-acre...
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Beaches: Devonport to Waiwera
On now in the Angela Morton room at Takapuna Library is Beaches: Devonport to Waiwera. Showing camping and cars and everything in-between, the focus is on how we’ve enjoyed our beaches and the part...
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A collection of roses from nature, 1796-1799 / Mary Lawrance
In 1799 a young woman called Mary Lawrance completed a 3 year-long project, a self-published book on roses, with all the 91 copper plates depicting varieties of roses etched and hand-coloured by...
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Manurewa Central and Finlayson Park Schools
The South Auckland Research Centre has recently processed two collections, which provide an insight into the history of two local schools: Manurewa Central School and Finlayson Park School.Manurewa...
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On the tented fields of the south
With the cricket season in full swing it’s timely to look at three of the earliest books about cricket in New Zealand. On the tented fields of the south, 1882 along with Pavilion echoes from the south,...
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Manurewa Library celebrates
In February 2017 Manurewa Library celebrates its 50th anniversary. On 20 February 1967 it was opened on the first floor of the Natali Buildings on the corner of Great South Road and Station Road. It...
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Churches in Onehunga
There are several historic churches in Onehunga, reflecting the early European settlement of the area. Early Church Services in OnehungaThe first church services in Onehunga were held on the first...
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No description is equal to an actual leaf
Currently on display in the Special Collections reading room, in the Central Library, is a single leaf from a 13th century Latin Bible generously donated to the Library by Keith Stuart late last year....
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Mary Scott, 1888 - 1979
I discovered a Mary Scott display in Pirongia on a recent road trip following a compulsory coffee stop plus a walk across the highway to the Pirongia Heritage & Information Centre / Te Whare...
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Colonial Tinder
Matrimonial agencies and personal ads were the colonial era equivalent of today’s dating apps like Tinder. In 1885 the owner of Auckland’s only agency, Thomas Hannaford, claimed to have found 115 wives...
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Lilian Edger and Theosophy
Last year in the Special Collections reading room I came across a slim volume titled Religion and theosophy, a lecture delivered on Sunday afternoon in the City Hall, Auckland, New Zealand on Sunday...
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Behind the camera
On now on the 2nd floor of the Central Library is our latest exhibition, Behind the camera, featuring a selection from photographers and photography studios whose work is now held in Sir George Grey...
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Auckland Weekly News Photos for 1914-18
The Great War is over! Now 24,463 Auckland Weekly News Supplement photos for the period August 1914 to December 1918 have been more fully described so that they can be searched by description and...
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Auckland Library Heritage Trust scholarship 2017/2018
Applications for the Auckland Library Heritage Trust Researcher in Residence scholarship are now open!Ref: John Rykenberg, Auckland dance band, 1959, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland...
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R. A. K. Mason: a uniquely distinguished son of the city
Ref: John Daley, Lorne Street, 1974, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 7-A13628.THIS TOTORA TREEWAS PLANTED BY THEAUCKLAND CITY COUNCILTO HONOUR THE MEMORY OFRONALD ALLISON KELLS...
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RainbowYOUTH archive
From humble but enthusiastic beginnings, RainbowYOUTH has grown to become one of the most successful youth organisations in New Zealand. Ref: RainbowYOUTH, RainbowYOUTH Collection, West Auckland...
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Caroline Abraham: my own bright land
34 sketches in New Zealand for Mr Charles Abraham. Ref: Caroline Abraham, Sketchbook, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 3-111.Mrs Caroline Harriet Abraham is chiefly remembered...
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Autograph books
While the autograph is now thought of as a hastily scrawled celebrity signature, autograph books were once a treasured item which collected illustrations, poems and personal messages from friends and...
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Further footprints with Murray Freer
Auckland Libraries has recently added a further selection of photographs from the South Auckland Courier files of the late 1960s to the Footprints database. These images provide a visual feast of...
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