Famous Firsts in Onehunga : Onehunga Business Association

Circa 800	Toi Te Huatahi the great Polynesian navigator explores Aotearoa. Some of his descendants (called Te Tini o Toi or The Multitude of Toi) settle on the shores of the Manukau Harbour.
1600s	The Tainui Canoe sailed down the Tamaki River from the Waitemata to Otahuhu and then portaged across to the Manukau Harbour, thus finding an important route to the Waikato River. The Ngati Awa tribe established pas and villages at Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill) and Owairaka. The Waiohua tribe holds all of Tamaki under the leadership of Hua Kai Waka (Hua Who Unites People). Hua’s main pā is at Maungawhau, with Onehunga an important waka landing. – The Rev. A.G. Purchas claimed Onehunga was named about 1646 by the Waiohua tribe. Sir George Grey was told this story by the local Maori when he visited in 1846. The area was once gardened, but almost a wilderness at the same time of the arrival of the Europeans.
Circa 1670	Puhihuia and Ponga elope to Awhitu and escape from her pursuing parents in waka tied up at Onehunga.
Early 1700s	Hua’s grandson Kiwi Tamaki succeeds to the leadership and moves the main pā to Maungakiekie.
Mid 1700s	Kiwi Tamaki is defeated in battle at Mangere Mountain. Mana over Auckland isthmus, including Onehunga, passes to Ngati Whatua, with Tuperiri replacing Kiwi at Maungakiekie Pā.
1800–1840	Onehunga is a major Maori settlement, occupied all year round.
1820	Rev Samuel Marsden sights Onehunga and stays overnight with a party of Maori from a settlement in Onehunga accompanying him.
1820’s	Small Maori Settlement known near the foot of Princes Street. Te Whero Whero of Ngati Mahutu resided on land overlooking Onehunga Beach to maintain his mana over the land.
1827	Durville observed the area was neglected and overgrown.
1830’s	Timber traders in Manukau Harbour.
1831	Captain Smith sailed into the Manukau Harbour.
1835	Tom Mitchell, a timber and flour merchant, traded to Sydney. He was the first white settler and set up a sawmill at Mill Bay.
1840	Hobson offered land by Ngati Whatua Chief Apihai Te Kawau and capital moves to Tamaki. John Logan Campbell visits Apihai at Onehunga village and tries to buy land. Apihai declines Campbell’s offers. On the 12^th December, the following advertisement was inserted in the “New Zealand Gazette”: “A suitable reward will be paid to any person who may invent a machine to aid manual labour in preparing New Zealand flax or hemp, provided it complies with the following conditions”: a. The machine, if it is to be used by one person, must not cost more than five pounds, and in any case must be durable. b. It must be so easily applied, that one week’s instruction shall enable the most ignorant to work it. c. It must enable one person to render fit for shipment, not less that 50lbs weight of flax daily. d. It must be easily made and removed. Onehunga took up the challenge, because it produced for more world first patent machines for the flax industry: The automatic flax catcher The automatic flax washer The automatic flax fibre scutcher The automatic tow cleaner and saver.
1841	Felton Matthew completes the first survey of Onehunga area. First noting of name Onehunga for the Maori settlement by the beach.
c. 1841	John Logan Campbell and William Brown attempt trade with the Maori settlement at Onehunga.
1842	Governor Hobson proclaims the County of Eden, including Onehunga.
1843	Bishop Selwyn stops at Onehunga on an expedition.
1844–45	Governor Fitzroy waives Crown right of pre-emption. All Ngati Whatua land at Onehunga, including Onehunga village and Maungakiekie Pā, is obtained by the Crown and various settlers.
1844	7 May – Earliest recorded land sale to Thomas Jackson. Governor Robert Fitzroy had passed two land acts during this year allowing individuals to buy land direct from the Maori owners on payment of a small tax to the Government. The business section of Onehunga now stands on part of Jackson’s farmland. Establishment of the beach trading area. Robert Forbes purchases nine acres from three Maori chiefs, formerly Te Whero Whero’s land. First hotel established. 11 November Isabella Forbes – first white child born in Onehunga. Forbes Street was named after this family.
1845	Increasing numbers arriving on immigrant ships.
1846	Governor Grey visited to assess Onehunga’s suitability as a defence outpost and decided to retain the name Onehunga Police force started in Onehunga. Site surveyed for military settlement.
1847	Arrival of the first Fencible soldiers in the Ramilles, Berhampore and Oriental Queen, till 1849. These men were recruited in Great Britain from the military pensioners and discharged soldiers. They had to be under the age of 45, able bodied and of good character. They were given an acre of land and a rent-free cottage. First Catholic mass held in Onehunga. First school built by Reverend Purchas next to St Peter’s church.
1848	Onehunga becomes a unit of Local Government in the County of Eden. First Anglican Church of St Peter’s completed. Royal Hotel opened. Start of commercial development along Princes Street. First postal service established.
1849	Onehunga became a Hundred – one of six in Auckland. Sophia Bates was New Zealand’s first postmistress in 1849. Berhampore fencibles (second force) and Oriental Queen fencibles arrive. Onehunga Village surveyed.
1850	First Methodist chapel built. First post office shipped from Russell and re-erected in Queen Street.
1851	Church of St Mary’s built.
1852	A horse omnibus ran from Onehunga to Auckland and back every Monday in the summer, there was a regular service by 1860.
1853	October 2 – Edward Gibbon Wakefield visited Onehunga to talk about colonisation. William Powditch first Onehunga representative to the Auckland Provincial Council (for the Pensioner Settlements).
1854	First established industry: John Bycroft’s flour mill, Princes Street.
1855	First subscription library and free reading room in Onehunga opened next to St Peter’s Church.
1857	New Zealand’s first caesarean delivery was performed in Onehunga by Dr Weeks, assisted by Dr McGaurin and Dr Curtis and in the presence of the Rev. Dr Purchas, “who kindly gave assistance”. This took place because the mother’s death was inevitable in an circumstances. A “fine healthy female was extracted.” The mother, a Mrs. Filmer, was under chloroform. The reason for her inevitable death was not given. Second school erected next to St Peter’s church.
1858	First wharf built.
1860’s	Commercial development expands along Queens Street.
1860	Building of the Blockhouse was begun for the protection of women and children. The Land Wars had started, and the authorities were afraid that the Maori would attack the settlers in Onehunga. The Blockhouse was built on Green Hill Reserve, now Jellicoe Park, and still stands today. Onehunga becomes separate electoral district. George O’Rorke first Member of House of Representatives for Onehunga. Captain Henry Hardington starts first horse omnibus service to Onehunga from Auckland. Congregational Church built in Princes Street.
1861	First Onehunga custom house built first sub-collector of customs appointed.
1862	First Presbyterian Church built.
1863	Refugees were brought into Onehunga from the outlying districts and housed in an old customs building, near one of the wells. Because of their plight the Onehunga Ladies’ Benevolent Society was started. The “Orpheus” disaster took place. Some dead buried in graveyard at St Peter’s church.
1864	The Swiftsure and Thomas Fletcher arrived at Onehunga from Melbourne with the militia for the 4^th Waikato Regiment. They were accommodated in tents at the Captain Springs Reserve. Captain Springs Road is still there. First convent school opened in the parish. The Onehunga institute founded. First bank in Onehunga, Bank of Auckland, Princes Street. First locally built steamer the blue Nose launched.
1865	Second wharf completed. The Catholic Institute founded.
1867	Onehunga Highway Board was set up and rates were collected in 1869.
1868	Highway Board for the District of Onehunga formed.
1871	Onehunga Courthouse opened.
1873	Branch railway line between Auckland and Onehunga completed – Boat train to New Plymouth was the only transport to Wellington.
1874	Onehunga Railway Station completed. Onehunga Perpetual Land Building and Investment Society begun.
1875	First Mangere Bridge opened.
1876	Third school built, Selwyn Street.
1877	Onehunga Borough Council formed.
1878	First Water reservoir built at Captain Street springs.
1879	Crown Grant of 47 acres for Waikaraka Park and Cemetery. Auckland Savings Bank opens in house on Queen Street.
1880	First Onehunga Racing Club meeting was held in Waikaraka Park. Onehunga-Waiuku Steam Navigation Company formed.
1881	Onehunga Borough Council gain ownership of Green hill Reserve (Jellicoe Park) and “The Farm” (Waikaraka Park). Northern Steamship Company began Onehunga service.
1883	First horse race meeting of Onehunga Racing Club at Waikaraka Park.
1886	First gas streetlights in Onehunga. Auckland Savings Bank erect building in Queen Street. Woollen mill started, later Onehunga Woollen Mills Limited.
1887	Volunteer Fire Brigade was inaugurated.
1888	First street lighting by gas. Onehunga’s first water pumping station opened. Church of the Assumption consecrated.
1889	Water reticulation started and a pumping station and reservoir were built.
1890	Waikaraka Cemetery was consecrated, and the first burial took place. Second Presbyterian Church built.
1892	Borough Council Chambers built at Corner of Queen Street (now the mall) and Princes Street. First National Bank opens in new Borough chambers.
1893	Elizabeth Yates elected as first woman mayor in the British Empire.
1894-1897 & 1901-1904	The first native born New Zealander to become Mayor in New Zealand was Mr D.A Sutherland.
1899	Auckland volunteers, 1^st NZ contingent, leave for the Boer War from Onehunga.
1901	Main school opened, November. Onehunga Racing Pigeon Club established.
1902	Second post office built.
1903	Electric tram services to Onehunga wharf from Auckland City. First high school in the district established. Closed 1911. San Souci Tea Kiosk opened.
1906	First fire station built on Princes Street.
1907	New Fire Station built for volunteer Fire Brigade.
1908	Seddon Memorial tram shelter and drinking fountain unveiled at Royal Oak junction.
1911	Big Forester’s Hall built. Later destroyed by fire.
c. 1911	Little Forester’s Hall built, Grey Street.
1912	Opening of the Carnegie Free Library. Boyd’s Zoo opened in Symonds Street. This zoo was closed in 1922 and the animals sold to the Auckland City Council for the Zoo in Grey Lynn. Church of Christ chapel built in Trafalgar Street.
1913	New pumping station and reservoir – twenty miles of sewers now in operation and being discharged into the Manukau Harbour. Auckland Harbour Board take over administration of Onehunga port and wharves.
1915	Second Mangere Bridge completed.
1918	Influenza pandemic; 59 die in Onehunga.
1920’s	Onehunga Bible Chapel erected in Inkerman Street.
1922	Green Hill Reserve renamed Jellicoe Park, with a main entrance archway erected as a memorial to the servicemen who lost their lives in the 1924-1918 war. Concrete highway through the borough commenced.
1923	Jellicoe Park opened. Third convent school erected.
1925	Strand Picture Theatre built. Closed 1964.
1926	Second Onehunga Fire station opened.
1927	Installation of electricity throughout the borough completed. New ferro-concrete wharf completed. First Seventh Day Adventist Church built in Mt Smart Road.
1928	Geddes Basin became rubbish tip, but in 1934 the name was changed to Gloucester Park.
1930	Foundation stone laid for second St Peter’s church. – Onehunga Ex-Servicemen’s Club formed.
1933	Onehunga Fire Brigade amalgamated with Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board.
1934	Geddes Basin crater sealed off, filled in, and renamed Gloucester Park.
1935	Waikaraka Park upgraded and concrete grandstand built.
1937	Onehunga Business Association incorporated.
1940	Floral Clock installed at Jellicoe Park for New Zealand’s centennial.
1943	Manukau Intermediate School opens.
1947	Rotary Club of Onehunga chartered.
1950	Last passenger train between Onehunga and Auckland.
1955	John Park Memorial Fountain installed in Jellicoe Park.
1956	Last tram leaves Onehunga in December. Onehunga War Memorial swimming pool built and opened next to Jellicoe Park Three bridges over Manukau to Mangere.
1958	Senior Citizens Service Club, the first in New Zealand, was established.
1959	First Operative District Town Planning Scheme. Onehunga Mayoress’s Welfare Committee was founded. ‘Journey’s End’ was opened on Mrs Soar’s property in Normans Hill Road. When Mrs Soar died in 1968 the Council bought the cottage from the estate and the family donated the valuable collection of items it contained. “Journey’s End’ was moved to Jellicoe Park in 1969.
1960’s	Reclamation of foreshore begins. Pikes Point established.
1960	Garside Village Built – 40 units.
1961	First Gloucester Park stockcar championships held. Onehunga repertory Society formed.
1962	Reclamation commenced of 75 acres of industrial land. Old railway Station moved to Alfred Street, becomes clubrooms for Railway Enthusiasts Society.
1963	First substantial loan approved by ratepayers. New National Bank building opens.
1964	Onehunga Borough Council assumes control of Fergusson Domain and Gloucester Park.
1966	Manningville Pensioner Village completed – a further 96 pensioner Units were built. Little Dolphin Theatre established.
1968	Vehicle Testing Station was built in Princes Street.
1969	First meeting in the new Council Chambers in Church Street.
1970	Opening of the new council Chambers, library and Sir William Jordan Memorial Hall. New municipal chambers and library opened.
1972	Onehunga had one of the oldest houses and one of the most travelled. This was the old Mission house that was in Grey Street, where it served as a manse for the Presbyterian Church and later, in 1972, was returned to Mangungu from where it originally came. Northern Steamship company closes its offices.
1973	Pensioner housing built on unused railway land. Queen Street renamed Onehunga Mall and closed to through traffic.
1974	Onehunga Fencible and Historical Society formed, incorporated in 1975. Onehunga Parish Council formed. Coronation Hall moved to Waikaraka Park. Comprehensive Urban renewal (C.U.R.A) introduced.
1975	New plunket rooms. Third post office building, The Mall. New Onehunga Police Station built.
1976	The oriental fruit moth – Cydia molesta – was first recorded from Mangere and Hillsborough home gardens. “Morton Court” (own your own) pensioner flat scheme. Opening of Community Aid Bureau (C.A.B).
1977	Onehunga celebrates centennial year.
1979	New covenant Fellowship start to lease the old Onehunga post Office for their meetings.
1981	Work on new Onehunga Primary School begun.
1982	Full container service begins from Onehunga Port.
1983	Third Mangere Bridge completed. Second Seventh Day Adventist Church built.
1984	The cluster fly – Pollenia pseudorudis – was first discovered in Onehunga.
1985	Laishley House donated to the Council and shifted from Princes Street to Jellicoe Park. Laishley House was opened to the public on 6 November 1988 and is part of our historical reserve. Hugh Watt Drive officially opened.
1987	Council decided to save the Carnegie Library building and up-grade it as a hall for hire to interested groups.
1988	Carnegie Library building re-opened after renovations. First Heritage week held.
1989	An amalgamation of boroughs turned Onehunga into part of Auckland City Council as part of the Maungakiekie Ward. October - Heated swimming pool added to the Memorial Pool complex.
1992	Onehunga Mainstreet programme started.
1993	Onehunga celebrated Elizabeth Yates being first woman to be voted Mayor in the British Empire 1893-1993.
1995	Dress-Smart outlet centre opened.
1996	Onehunga Mall reopened to traffic. Onehunga Co-operating Parish inaugurated. Onehunga high School marae opened, known as Te Haerenga.
2002	New Onehunga Library completed.
2003	Onehunga Community Centre opened. New Onehunga Fire Station completed.
2004	Oranga Community Centre opened, Fergusson Domain.
2005	Onehunga Community House exterior restoration completed. “Impending closure announced of Pikes Point Airpark.
2010	Auckland Council was established and the local board of Maungakiekie-Tāmaki was formed.
2015	Taumanu Reserve opens. Onehunga was confirmed as a key transformation area for Auckland Council.
2017	Onehunga Ladies’ Benevolent Society was deregistered as a society and wrapped up.
2018	The Onehunga Festival was relaunched. Onehunga Wharf was purchased by Auckland Council.
2019	The existing Mangere Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists closed.
2020	Work started on the new pedestrian bridge.

Other interesting facts about Onehunga

Dr. Logan Campbell carried out the first commercial transaction on the beach at Onehunga, just prior to the settlement of Auckland.

Onehunga was the first to produce iron from our own sand. There was a fine factory alongside the railway station, which manufactured pig-iron etc, until a shooting, which caused a near murder, stopped the industry, and closed the factory down.

The first Government-owned and operated railway in the North Island for the conveyance of the public, was the 8-mile section of line between Auckland and Onehunga.

Messrs. Price & Co built the first railway carriages in Onehunga. The firm later moved to Thames.

The Senior Services Club (now Onehunga Scene - Seniors club) was the first in New Zealand.

Onehunga had the first naval base in New Zealand.

The first steamship in New Zealand was built by Captain Grundy’s two sons on the Manukau Harbour at Onehunga.

St John’s Nurses’ Division first operated in Onehunga.

The Onehunga Primary School held the first Parent Teachers Association meeting in the Auckland area.

The source for this information is unknown.

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