Hidden within West Auckland’s embrace lies Massey East a suburb rich in history. Its name a tribute to New Zealand’s former Prime Minister William Massey. This wasn’t always its name though.
Long before the arrival of European settlers the land belonged to Te Kawerau a Maki. Pukewhakataratara a mountain known as Redhill to settlers posed a challenge. Its name translates to “hill that poses a challenge or obstacle”. It was a natural barrier.
The Crown acquired the land in 1853. The Nicolas family became the first recorded settlers receiving a land grant in 1882. The area was initially called Lawsonville. John Lawson’s orchard sat near Lawson’s Creek. Gum diggers lived there in simple dwellings. One such man Don Buck a Portuguese immigrant ran a camp. He employed ex-convicts to dig gum.
Massey’s transformation started in the 1960s. The Poultrymen’s Association opened a branch. Development boomed. Subdivision increased.
Massey East became a commuter suburb. The North West Motorway extension aided this growth. John Henry Colwill a businessman played a key role. He bought land establishing Lincoln Park Orchards. His influence is etched into the suburb’s roads and a school. Colwill Road Moire Road named after his daughter are testaments to his legacy. Royal Road possibly references the Royal Barlock typewriters he imported.
The suburb’s growth continued. Massey East now boasts Massey High School. Several primary schools stand in its midst. Massey Primary School the first opened in 1925. The area’s rich history lives on. The names of roads and schools whisper stories of pioneers settlers and a colorful past. Massey East a place where the past and present intertwine. A place where you can walk among history.