Civic Trust Auckland

History

The following brief history tracks the main focal points of Civic Trust Auckland, from its inception to the present day.

The idea of retaining important heritage elements goes back to the earliest settler period and efforts to create a museum in Auckland in the 1800's.

By the mid 1920's concern was already being expressed over the loss of volcanic landforms, but lack of political will and public support would result in continuing destruction, some of which continues to the present day.

In Britain, the vintage car club era was inaugurated in the early 1950's and was wonderfully publicized in the film Genevieve. It was also in Britain, a short time later, that the concept of creating a Civic trust, dealing with the quality of the present and future built environment, was first brought to a definite conclusion, with the founding of the nationwide Civic Trust there in 1957. The structure and aims of Civic Trust Auckland would be modeled largely on that organization, but with important additional elements, particularly Maori heritage and the protection of landforms. The wider natural environmental movement also followed a long gestation period, but was well on its way in the USA following the publication of Silent Spring by Rachael Carson in 1962.

It was against this international background and an immediate concern over the possible subdivision of Churchill Park, in Glendowie, that Civic Trust Auckland came into being.

1968-1979:
Civic Trust Auckland, founded by Mrs Margaret Newman and other concerned Auckland citizens, was incorporated in 1968. The Trust, as an amenity society, undertook work that no other single group at that time was constituted to do and aimed to arouse public interest and awareness in environmental and heritage concerns.

Its first President was Sir Douglas Robb, well-known surgeon and Auckland identity. The first Board of Directors consisted of 18 members including the President of the National Council of Women, District Commissioner of Works, President of the NZIA, Mayor of Takapuna, President of Auckland Jaycees, a surveyor, a developer and several engineers and Town Planners.

In 1971, E A J (Jim) Holdaway, Trustee and Life Member, served as President over the next 7 years. During that time many submissions and studies were made. The following seminars and conferences were held: 'The Seas must Live', 'Planning for People' and studies on Waste Disposal, the Waitemata Harbour, Water Resources and the Urban Landscape.

With the Civic Trust office set up at 'Hamurana', one of the merchant houses at 29 Princes Street, Jim's term saw the beginning of the Mahurangi Scott Point project, (led by Margaret Newman and Jo Donovan), under which working bees were organized for the restoration of the historic Scott Homestead (now coming within an ARC reserve and administered by that body. The 23 Alten Road project got under way, to save and restore the oldest timber dwelling still located on its original site in the City (current).

Cherry Raymond, well known broadcaster and journalist, was the next President. Seminars during her time were 'Rebirth of the Inner City', 'The Green City Concept' and 'The Greening of Auckland', the last two being based on the principles of Roger Johnson, an eminent Australian planner. The secretary during Cherry's time was Carol (Prince) Sanders. Judy Brandt followed in 1983.

1980s:
In 1983 Bryan Bartley, who had played a major part in saving the Princes Street merchant houses, was President during the next three years. Dorothy Brewster worked as secretary over the next eight years. Seminars of that time were: 'Bricks, Byways and Backwaters', 'Auckland the Water City', 'Auckland City of Trees' and the Auckland Harbour Symposium. Charles B Molloy was treasurer over a number of years.

1986 and 1987 saw Judy Brandt as President. This was the year of the Viaduct Basin Study and the Manukau Harbour Study followed. She was followed from 1987 to 1991 by Roy Clements, Life Member. This was a time of widespread destruction in the city and many battles were fought in attempts to save historic buildings - some won, such as the Custom House - others lost, such as the old Salvation Army Hall and His Majesty's Theatre.

'Between Land and Sea' was a seminar held in that time. Establishment of the Auckland Heritage Trust arose from another seminar, 'The Heritage of Auckland', with an initial grant from the Auckland Regional Authority. This Trust held an annual Heritage Week from 1988 and worked on the promotion of heritage in a myriad of other ways, including organising a four-day Corporate Heritage Seminar, which led to the development of an Auckland Corporate Heritage Plan, and submitting on proposed law changes affecting heritage. Much of its work was in the form of educating the public about heritage, initiatives in conjunction with local bodies to promote appropriate planning for heritage, and working with business interests to promote heritage.

The Auckland Heritage Trust was dissolved in 1993 and its funds given to the Civic Trust, whose objectives are aligned to those of Auckland Heritage Trust. The purposes for which the Auckland Heritage Fund may be used are:

to foster the preservation, conservation and enhancement of the architectural, natural, cultural and historic heritage of the Auckland region and to promote knowledge of and interest in that heritage
for seminars, meetings and lectures for the above purposes.

1990s:
Civic Trust Auckland worked then, as now, with a number of other organizations, for example a conservation week seminar on the Waitakere Ranges, with the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society and Forrest and Bird. Roy was followed by Darren Day who carried on the battle over the next two years with the help of secretary, Catherine Edmeades. Di Stewart took over as President in 1995 for the next two years while Tania Mace was secretary from 1996 to 2000. An intensive project undertaken over these years, which overtaxed the energies of so many, was the Save Britomart Project. This drive won a significant victory for that important area of the city.

After Di Stewart's death in 1998, Kate Leslie took over as President. She was later supported by Mike Williams, acting secretary. 30 years was celebrated with a winter lecture series featuring Peggy Lauer, Russell Bartlett and panel and Professor John Morton. Soon after in early 1999, Civic Trust Auckland lost its home of many years at Hamurana (at the conclusion of a 21year lease with the Auckland City Council) and for a period struggled to survive. Nevertheless there was another successful winter lecture series featuring Bruce Hucker, Sait Akkirman and Jeremy Salmond.

2000's:
For three years Civic Trust Auckland was without formal premises, in partial recess, while its future activities were considered. This period however saw progress towards a history of 23 Alten Road and another on Partington's Mill, both earmarked for future publication. A watching brief was maintained on various development projects. In 2004, in an effort to sustain the Trust, a group of Life Members undertook responsibility as the Interim Board, led by Bryan Bartley and Roy Clements and supported by John & Elise Lello and Carol Sanders.

By 2005 an elected board headed by President Bryan Bartley and Vice President Roy Clements, heralded a substantial revival of the Trust. The other board members from that time are Margaret Barriball, Munroe Graham, Jim Mason, Dave Pearson and Carol Sanders (secretary).

At the 2006 AGM Munroe Graham was voted in as president. Also voted in was new board member Elaine Bartley.

Activities from 2005 can be studied in the activities and news sections of this web site.

Compiled by Carol Sanders, with additional input from Roy Clements and Munroe Graham.