Heritage et AL

Today on Heritage et AL we are featuring the T.A. Bishop Collection of stereographs that are held at the West Auckland Research Centre. This collection consists of 767 stereograph cards from the early decades of last century. These images provide a valuable record of the lives of early settlers of West Auckland in general and specifically in Titirangi. For instance, the Bishops attended the openings of the Upper Nihotupu Dam   and also the Titirangi Soldiers Memorial Church. Ref: James D. Richardson, Opening of the Nihotupu Dam, 14 April 1923, West Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Libraries, TAB-P-0254. Ref: James D. Richardson, Opening of Titirangi Soldiers Memorial Church, 18 May 1924, West Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Libraries, TAB-P-0350.

Many people would not think of dams as being heritage assets, but there a number of historic but still operational dams in the Auckland region. Ref: JTD-07B-03192, Huia Dam, 1941, West Auckland Research Centre The Waitakere Ranges Water Supply System draws water from the ranges in West Auckland including the Huia, Nihotupu and Waitakere streams. During the 20th century, five large dams were constructed. These created the a series of reservoirs and associated tramways, piping, tunnels and filter stations. The main dams which are still in use include: the Waitakere Dam (1910), Upper Nihotupu Dam (1923), Upper Huia Dam (1929), Lower Nihotupu Dam (1948) and the Lower Huia Dam (1971).