Imagine, if you will, Auckland’s waterfront humming with activity. This is Queens Wharf. A place where history meets the sea.
Queens Wharf stretches out before us. It is a concrete pier with a vibrant past. It sits where Queen Street meets the Waitematā Harbour. Close by, you will find the historic Ferry Building. Princes Wharf is to the west and Captain Cook Wharf to the east.
Once, this area was known as Horotiu. A taniwha, a water creature, was said to play here. Māori gathered food from these waters. Later, it became Commercial Bay. Boats arrived with immigrants and goods from afar. Waka brought vegetables, fish and pork. It was truly the gateway to Auckland.
Let’s step back in time. The first Queen Street Wharf appeared in 1852. It boosted Auckland’s role in exporting wool, kauri gum and timber.
But that old wooden wharf was not to last forever. From 1907 to 1913, Queens Wharf was constructed. It was built in stages so wharf operations could continue. This new ferro-concrete wharf became Auckland’s main overseas passenger terminal.
Not long after, the 1913 Great Strike erupted. Farmers, known as Massey’s Cossacks, stepped in to work the docks. They protected the cargo while the wharf laborers were on strike.
Passenger services shifted to Princes Wharf in 1960. Queens Wharf then served as a cargo hub for Ports of Auckland until 2010. You might have seen imported vehicles parked on its deck. Sheds stored goods. One was a cool store. The other was used for customs processing.
In 2010, the Auckland Regional Council and the New Zealand Government bought Queens Wharf. Each paid $20 million.
For the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Queens Wharf was transformed into “Party Central”. Shed 11 was dismantled and replaced by The Cloud. The Cloud served as a gathering place for the event. Shed 10 was refurbished.
A design competition was held to plan the wharf’s renewal beyond the Rugby World Cup. But the designs were heavily criticized. Auckland Mayor John Banks was among those who voiced concern. The competition was cancelled and a winner was never announced. Instead, the temporary Cloud structure was built. It cost about $10 million.
Today, Panuku Development Auckland manages the area. Further changes await the results of a “Port Future” report.
Queens Wharf has a long and rich history. From Māori food gathering to cargo handling. From passenger terminal to Rugby World Cup hub. It continues to evolve. It remains an integral part of Auckland’s waterfront. A testament to the city’s maritime past and future.