Dove-Myer Robinson Park, more commonly known as the Parnell Rose Garden, is a park in Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand. The park is named after Dove-Myer Robinson, the longest-serving mayor of Auckland, who served for 18 years. There are over 5,000 roses in the garden. Some of the plants in the garden have been bred by internationally celebrated rose breeders. [1]
The 'white garden' is a popular venue for weddings. As of 2010, the park was home to the oldest mānuka and the largest pōhutukawa tree in Auckland. [2]
Each year in November, the park is host to the Parnell Festival of Roses, which showcases New Zealand craft stalls, art exhibitions, music, strolling performers and thousands of roses. [3]
History
The area was once known as Taurarua. [4] It was included in the land made available by Ngati Whatua for the establishment of Auckland city in September 1840 .
In around 1905, what is now the Luxerose cafe, was built for Emily Gillies, the widow of Robert Gillies, as a timber and shingle, Arts and Crafts style house, named "Kohanga". [5] It is likely to have been designed by Charles Le Neve Arnold, the architect of Auckland Grammar School.
In 1914 ratepayers voted by 815:575 for a £15,000 loan to buy 9.5 acres (3.8 ha) for a park. [6] In 1915 a court settled the price at £16,125. [7] The Gillies residence was converted to a tea house in 1925. [8] Also in 1925, a controversial stone entrance was built. [9]
Other additions include; The Netherlands War Memorial (1963), the Signals sculpture (1971), the Dove-Myer Robinson Lookout Shelter (1981) and the Nancy Steen Garden (1984). [8] The gardens were renamed after the former mayor in 1981.
References
- ^ "Parnell Rose Garden - Auckland". The New Zealand Rose Society. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Dove-Myer Robinson Park". Auckland Council. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Parnell Rose Gardens". aucklandnz.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2010.
- ^ "TAURARUA (GILLIES' PARK). NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 20 February 1915. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Luxerose Cafe".
- ^ "CITY LOANS. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 27 March 1914. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "GILLIES PARK ESTATE. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 18 February 1915. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Kohanga (Former), 85-87 Gladstone Road, Parnell" (PDF). Heritage Unit, Auckland Council. August 2016.
- ^ "GILLIES PARK GATEWAY. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 11 January 1926. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
External links
- Parnell Rose Gardens review Lonely Planet
- Photographs of Parnell Rose Gardens held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.