- PARKS -

Western Park

Ponsonby Road/Beresford St,
Freemans Bay
Auckland



The Photo's bellow are of the distinctive sculptures
created by sculptor John Radford.

Dating back to the mid-19th century, Western Park is one of the
city's most distinguished open spaces.
The park falls away from the Te Rimu Tahi (the lone Rimu tree) ridge.
Orea (eels) were caught from the Tuna Mau stream, that once flowed
through the centre of the park out to Waiatarau - Freemans Bay.

The original park consisted of a coffin-shaped wedge extending
from Ponsonby Road to Beresford Street, with access to the park
being gained from a very narrow Ponsonby Road frontage.

In 1873, the council put forward the considerable sum of ten guineas
as prize money for the best new park design, and 11 different
concepts were submitted. The winners were Messrs Hammond and Blackmore
with an intricate design entitled 'Lily of the Valley'.

The new park was finished, and in 1874 the City Parks Committee noted
that "the committee have caused upwards of 1100 deciduous and
coniferous trees of the choicest kind to be planted in the park."

_______________________