Heritage et AL

One of the first fenced swimming baths in Auckland was around an area of shoreline at Smales Point. In the 1860s men paid a small fee to swim there – naked, as was customary at the time. Women were not allowed to use the Smales Point pool but were able to swim for a few hours a day at the Britomart Baths, during which time men were excluded. Ref: James D Richardson, Auckland harbour, 1864, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-526.

The few weeks over Christmas and New Year are a popular time for many in New Zealand to take some time off from work and, weather permitting, enjoy some fun in the sun. So whether you’re working through the summer holidays, at the bach or even in a different hemisphere we hope you enjoy this collection of images of New Zealand summer holidays. Last week we wrote about the interesting story behind the Riverhead Dump photograph collection . All of the images in this post are also from that collection.  Ref: Sports car, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 1055-136. Ref: Auckland Harbour Bridge, 1960s, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 1055-109.

Have you been enjoying the beaches this summer? Relaxing, paddling, swimming, fishing and having picnics on the beach are all part of a great Kiwi summer. Enjoy these heritage images from Auckland Libraries as you kick back and plan your next trip to the beach. Having fun at the beach: Ref: T0213, passengers from the SS Condor alighting at Takapuna Wharf, Takapuna, c. 1910, North Auckland Research Centre Ref: 4-618, looking east along Okahu Bay, 1901, Sir George Grey Special Collections Ref: 35-R349, having fun on the beach at Sumner, Christchurch, c. 1916, Sir George Grey Special Collections Ref: T0502, Milford Beach looking south east towards Rangitoto Island, 1922, North Auckland Research Centre

Well that time of year is nearly upon us and what better way to celebrate than to look back at Christmases past, through the heritage collections at Auckland Libraries. The clothes and hairstyles and locations might have changed a bit but we are still enjoying the same things at Christmas such as picnics at the beach and taking family photographs. Heritage et AL will be taking a break over the festive period but will be back on 20th January with more heritage stories and taonga (treasures) from the Auckland Libraries collections. Enjoy your Christmas an New Year holiday! Christmas cards: Ref: Footprints 05550, 'The Season's Greetings', Otahuhu, 1906, Photograph reproduced courtesy of Otahuhu Historical Society, South Auckland Research Centre You can see more heritage Christmas cards in the online exhibition from the Sir George Grey Special Collections . Getting ready for the holidays: Ref: AWNS-19140101-40-3, the Christmas rush at Auckland Station, 1914, Si...

For Māori, Te Henga or Bethells as it is also known, is a very important location. During pre-European times the Waitakere ranges including Te Henga, was one of the most densely populated areas because food was easy to catch from the sea and grow on the land. Ref: JTD-02E-01755-G, view south showing O'Neill Bay, Erangi Point, Ihumoana Island, Bethells Beach, Pukekowhai Point and headlands beyond, c.1930s, West Auckland Research Centre The long occupation of this area by the tangata whenua (people of the land), Te Kawerau a Maki can be seen in the large number of archaeological sites scattered along the coast, including 18 pa (fortification sites) and at least 10 kainga (village sites). It is also reflected in the name Te Henga, which means 'the food for a work party'. Ref: AWNS-19381207-50-3, west coast seascape: A view at Bethells (Te Henga), 1938, Sir George Grey Special Collections