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Local history of Avondale and Blockhouse Bay
Local history of Avondale and Blockhouse Bay
A select bibliography of resources with information about the history of Avondale and Blockhouse Bay.

Utilising oral histories the author focuses on the district from the 1910s to the late 1940s. As well as the very early history of the area, the book also describes the effects of the military blockhouse, kauri gum, canals, school, local industries, recreation and church.
The Avondale area amalgamated with
Auckland City on 1 September 1927, and thus there is much of relevance to both Avondale and Avondale South (more recently
Blockhouse Bay) here. Bush has written a superb history of local government activities in much of the
Auckland isthmus, and in 1991 he followed this with Advance in order, the Auckland City Council from centenary to reorganisation 1971-1989. Note that the Auckland Research Centre has the large index to the notes of both these works.
Although written from a West Auckland perspective, much of Avondale's shopping and employment focus was and is to the West, particularly around the industrial, commercial and retail New Lynn area.
Pubished by the Avondale - Waterview Historical Society, this provides a very detailed chronological survey of the period 1841 to 2001. It also has a good index. The society also produces its own
journal.
Five pages of recollections of early Avondale, no doubt by a long time resident.
A brief but worthy survey of the history of Blockhouse Bay.
Published by the Avondale History Group, this is an excellent local history. It includes economic and social developments in the area, as well as the expansion of local government. There are four sections: 1750-1849, 1850-1899, 1900-1959 and 1960- 990, with a range of aspects covered in each.
There is also a supplement to the Auckland Star of 15 August 1965 entitled From fields to factories. This describes both the former market gardens on the Rosebank peninsula and the development of factories in the early 1960s.
The Auckland City Council Archives has records of the Avondale Road Board and Council 1891-1927.
Compiled by Keith Rusden for the Blockhouse Bay Historical Society.

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