Heritage et AL

This coming weekend, January 24 th -26 th, marks the observation of Auckland Anniversary. This year  ASB and Auckland Council are presenting weekend packed with events to celebrate the 175 th anniversary of Auckland. The main events will be held on Queen’s Wharf and at Shed 10 and include a multimedia exhibition that promises to give a glimpse into the area’s past. Image: Drawing showing the Auckland Regatta 1862. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 863-RB586. F. R. Stack. Staff from Auckland Libraries will be down at Queen’s Wharf over the weekend with our mobile library bus filled with historical resources and displays of items from our heritage and research collections. Image: Dry Work. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19090204-06-06. Photographer: E.Gilling. . The Auckland Libraries mobile bus will be just inside the main entrance area next to the information stand, so do pop by and see us. Members of the Heritage and Research team will...

To see off the old year and help usher in the new we thought it would be appropriate to see how the New Year has been celebrated down the years: Ref: P.P. De Loree, Premiers of N.Z. Happy New Year, 1894, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 661-67. Ref: Motor car invasion, Cockle Bay, 1939, 1 January 1939, South Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Libraries, Footprints 15.

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.

Can do attitude is in our Kiwi DNA. We are programmed to DIY, recycle, make do and innovate with very little. Being practical, economical, innovative and ‘handy’ is second nature. A dip into our heritage collections here at Auckland Libraries has revealed a past studded with gems showcasing our 'make do' approach to things. Enjoy and, who knows, you might even pick up a few tips! Recycling: Ref: Photographer unknown, Bert and Margaret at Vaughan homestead, Long Bay, 1927, Local History Online, E0015  Ref: JT Diamond, Old shed, site of Murdoch's mill, Karekare, 1953, West Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Libraries, JTD-05A-01082 Ref: Photographer unknown, Mildura Villa, Grundy's shack , Cornwallis, 1905, West Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Libraries, JTD-08A-00539