History of Devonport

Devonport is one of Auckland’s most historic suburbs, with European settlement dating from the mid-1800s. Māori settlement goes back much further, to around the mid-14th century. Small local mountains were once Māori pā sites (fortified villages). With the arrival of Pakeha settlers, Devonport became an important farming and shipbuilding centre – the dry dock at the naval base is still in use today.

Devonport was named after the Devonport naval base in England and the Royal New Zealand Navy still contributes significantly to the flavour and prosperity of the local community.

Devonport Beach, circa 1912, with Maungauika/North Head beyond. The homes seen on King Edward Pde include Elizabeth House, which remains to this day.

The harbour occupies a special place in the hearts of Devonport people. Two of New Zealand’s best-known yachties – Bruce Farr and the late Sir Peter Blake – were local lads, and Blake was a member of the local yacht club for many years. The Coastal Classic yacht race officially begins just off Devonport Wharf every year, with many Farrdesigned yachts entering. North Head / Maungauika is riddled with military tunnels, connecting bunkers and empty gun emplacements. Rumours still abound of mysterious tunnels that are long forgotten. Devonport was originally an island, joined to the mainland by a narrow causeway which ran beside Narrow Neck Beach. Fort Takapuna, with its underground fort constructed in the late 19th century to repel the Russians, lies just beyond this beach. The original centre of Devonport was based at the bottom of Church St, where boatbuilding and the former Masonic Tavern were located. By the early 1900s, the centre of town shifted to where it is now, largely due to its proximity to Devonport Wharf and Auckland. For more than 100 years, Devonport was an independently governed borough. After a major battle with the government, Devonport was forced to become part of a newly created North Shore City in 1989. North Shore City was then incorporated into the newly created Auckland Council in 2010. Devonport’s independent spirit remains to this day, maintaining a tradition of standing up to authority and bureaucracy. Famously, locals took the government to court in the late 1990s over plans to sell a tract of Defence land at Narrow Neck. The residents won, and this area – a large grassy swathe up from the beach – is now a public park. Devonport has a remarkable collection of late 19th-century villas, some of them very grand. By the 1970s, many of the villas had become dilapidated and some were being pulled down to make way for flats. In the 1980s, a heritage movement developed to protect the old buildings. This coincided with gentrification sweeping Auckland’s inner-city suburbs. As a result, many villas were saved and lovingly restored. You’ll see them brought back to their original elegance and surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Victoria Rd, circa 1915, with Takarunga/Mt Victoria behind

Victoria Rd transport, circa 1910