Established in the 1880s Kingsland is an inner-city suburb of Auckland. Kingsland’s story begins long before European settlement. Ngā Anawai water-filled lava caves were formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago. This area was originally swampland. It was known to Tāmaki Māori.
In 1835 a land deal took place. Thomas Mitchell a Sydney trader purchased land. He bought it from ōpihai Te Kawau a rangatira or chief of Ngāti Whātua. This transaction was later disallowed. In 1841 Te Kawau gifted 3000 acres to the colonial government. Auckland’s growth as a city began.
Land sales continued. John McElwain bought 55 acres in 1852. He intended to farm. His brother George gave him an adjoining 60 acres. This land is in present-day Kingsland. Cabbage Tree Swamp Road was an original street. Settlers wanted a name change. It became Kingsland Road in 1877.
Kingsland’s development was slower than other areas. The terrain was rough. New North Road provided access in the 1860s. It was an alternative to the Great North Road. The Mt Albert District Highway Board was formed in 1866. It governed New North Road and surrounding areas. A tollbooth operated from 1875 to 1888.
The Kingsland railway station opened in 1880. This spurred growth. Auckland’s population increased in the late 19th century. Demand for housing grew. Rail and bus connections were established. This made Kingsland attractive for development. John McElwain subdivided his farm. 227 allotments were laid out in 1882.
Kingsland continued to grow in the early 1900s. The Auckland tramline reached Kingsland in 1903. Arthur W Page’s general store was central to the community. New shops appeared. New housing estates like Hirstleigh Leith Hall and Melvia subdivided more land. By the 1910s Kingsland was a working-class commuter suburb.
The Portland Building was constructed in 1913 and 1914. A new post office opened in 1912. St George’s Anglican Church was built in 1913. The Theatre Royal a cinema opened in 1915. Eden Park became a major sporting venue. Drainage problems plagued it.
In 1938 residents unsuccessfully petitioned to change Kingsland’s name to Beverly Hills. They disliked the name Kingsland. Kingsland’s commercial village thrived in the 1950s and 1960s. By the 1970s it was a center for Māori and Pasifika communities. Gentrification of inner-city suburbs contributed to this. Kingsland became densely populated. Overcrowded houses were common. The Northwestern Motorway was built in the 1970s. It severed links to Surrey Crescent and Arch Hill.
Kog Transmissions a recording studio was established in 1997. Musicians recorded there until 2010. Kingsland underwent major revitalization in the early 2000s and 2010s. Eden Park and the railway station were upgraded for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Kingsland continues to evolve a vibrant mix of history and modern life.