Remember Drury’s name. It echoes the legacy of Commander Byron Drury. He captained the HMS Pandora. Drury surveyed the Manukau Harbour in 1853. That’s how Drury got its name.
Drury is a rural town near Auckland. It sits 36 kilometers south of Auckland CBD. Drury falls under the Auckland Council’s authority. You will find Drury at the southern border of Auckland’s metropolitan area. It is 12 kilometers northeast of Pukekohe. Drury lies close to the Papakura Channel. The channel is an arm of the Manukau Harbour.
Let’s talk about Drury’s past. Coal mining was a big deal here in the 1850s. The Waihoihoi Mining and Coal Company formed in 1859. Success led to one of New Zealand’s earliest tramways. It opened in 1862. The track was 4ft 8in gauge. It stretched 5.2km. Coal moved to Slippery Creek for shipment to Onehunga.
Another early industry thrived in Drury. It was an extensive brick and pottery works. A tram line linked it to a nearby quarry. This quarry was at the foot of the Drury Hills. The brick and pottery industry operated until at least 1928.
Drury played a role in the New Zealand Wars. It was a staging area for British soldiers. General Duncan Cameron commanded them. These soldiers helped extend the Great South Road. It stretched south to the Mangatawhiri Stream.
In 1989, local government went through a major change. Drury became part of the Auckland Region. It formed the southern edge of the Papakura District. This included some eastern rural areas. These areas were previously known as Franklin County.
Until recently, Drury was a small semi-rural area. It nestled at the foot of the Bombay Hills. Auckland’s urban spread has changed that. Now, it is a southern suburb. It is close to the junction of State Highways 1 and 22. Both highways head south towards the Waikato region.
In 2010, the Auckland Region was combined. It became a single city authority. This was after a review. It was conducted by the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance. The Papakura and Franklin Districts were abolished. They were incorporated into the new council. Drury became part of the Franklin ward. This is one of the council’s thirteen wards.
Big changes are coming to Drury. Auckland’s largest business park is under development. It is expected to employ 6900 people. It will be in the south of Drury. Around 2500 homes are set to be built west of Drury. Development is already underway.
Before 1915, the Drury Road District Board governed Drury. It then joined Franklin County. Drury was one of Franklin County’s eight ridings.
The population of Drury is growing fast. As of June 2024, the estimated population was 1,870. That is a density of 316 people per square kilometer.
Drury is transforming. Once a rural village known as “Dreary Drury”, it’s becoming a city. Earthmovers are reshaping the landscape. New roads are emerging. Old shops are making way for progress. Auckland Council aims to manage this growth carefully. The goal is to accommodate the 60,000 people expected to move here over the next 20 years. This is part of the Southern Rural Strategy.
Some locals embrace the changes. Others long for the past. Drury is at the heart of Auckland’s golden triangle. This makes it attractive for developers. The challenge is to balance growth with community needs.
Drury’s journey is far from over. The township is becoming a city. It will be interesting to watch what happens next in Drury.