“Auckland: Thoughts on a Young City,” proclaims a headline. Auckland in 1949 stood as a still-compact city. Imagine dairy farms, orchards, and market gardens surrounding it.
Here at this survey point named 1949, we delve into Auckland’s ambitious plans of that year. It was a time of significant decisions about the city’s future. The government promised electrification “as soon as practicable.” They hired British consultants to assess Auckland’s suburban rail. The Halcrow-Thomas report emerged. It proposed electrification and the Morningside underground link. The report also suggested restricting road building. This restriction would remain until the rail improvements showed results. The incoming government initially agreed with the plan.
But these plans for Auckland faced a halt in 1954. Auckland City Council, under the urging of Prime Minister Sidney Holland, agreed to cancel them. A shift occurred. Auckland embraced motorways. A Master Transportation Plan would decide between rail and motorways.
The Auckland Morningside deviation was part of the plan. It would follow a route similar to the 1928/29 plan. An investigation assessed buildings along the proposed route. This assessment looked at condition, foundation type, and value.
The 1955 plan favored motorway construction. This came at the expense of rail. An Auckland City Council engineer criticized trams and trains. He called them inflexible. He argued motorways needed immediate construction. He warned “creeping paralysis” would choke Auckland’s transport. Buses using motorways would make rail unnecessary.
In 1949, most New Zealanders became New Zealand citizens. They were still British subjects. The British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948 came into effect. The National government, led by Sidney Holland, won the general election. Auckland’s mayor was John Allum. New Zealand’s estimated population was 1,892,100.
Significant events marked the year. Referendums addressed gambling and hotel hours. A referendum on military training also took place. Lawn bowls championships were held in Auckland.
Though Auckland was already a bustling city, it was smaller than it is today. The decision to prioritize motorways significantly shaped Auckland. It led to the city becoming known as a place to park cars. This survey point 1949, therefore, stands as a marker of a pivotal moment. It represents a time when Auckland chose a path that defined its development for decades to come.