Heritage et AL

There's a bit of a movement around at the moment to #Bringbackthetrams. It's timely, given we've included trams in our latest heritage display on the second floor of the Central Library, 'Auckland's amenities', as trams were indeed the lifeblood of Auckland for decades. They ran from the mid 1880s - originally horse drawn - until 1956 when the last tram took its final ride along the city to Onehunga route. At their peak in the 1940s, it's estimated around 99 million rides were taken on trams - a phenomenal number when Auckland's population was around the 200,000 mark. Ref: Henry Winkelmann, Looking south up Queen Street from the Gladtone Coffee Palace..., April 1903, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 1-W1042.  

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