Heritage et AL

Dance halls and night clubs were a great way for young people to meet, enjoy music, dance and socialise in the 1950s and 1960s. After World War II many Auckland teenagers had jobs, which meant they had the means and the time to enjoy the freedom of dance halls and night clubs playing pop, rock and roll music and jive. There were many inner city night club and dance venues that served soft drinks only. The  Church of the Holy Sepulchre  (known as “St Septs”) dances in Khyber Pass were easy to attend as it was close to most tram and bus routes in Auckland. Ref: Auckland Council, the Holy Sepulchre Church in Khyber Pass, Auckland, c. 1960-1979, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 435-C5-67A 

To celebrate Chinese New Year (also see the earlier post on 21 January 2013), we have been busy pinning up great heritage photos on Historypin. The images show locations and activities in Auckland associated with Chinese communities. The collection of images on Historypin  has two parts. The first is Old Chinatown in the centre of Auckland, around Greys Avenue, Hobson and Cook Streets. The first shop and business in this area was recorded in 1895. Other shops and businesses as well as a mission hall, masonic lodge and housing were quickly established. The images chosen show key locations in Old Chinatown, a landscape which will be both familiar and unfamiliar to present day Aucklanders. In an attempt to 'clean up the area', by 1964 Old Chinatown had been demolished to make way for new developments such as Myers Park, council flats and Auckland Town Hall. Ref: 4-2212, Chinese Mission Hall, Sir George Grey Special Collections