Volcanoes and speedways share a surprising history. That history is found right here at Gloucester Park North. This park is not just a green space. It’s a place where the earth rumbled and cars once raced.
Gloucester Park North is actually part of Te Hopua a Rangi. Te Hopua a Rangi is one of Auckland’s volcanoes. It sits in Onehunga. The volcano’s crater is quite wide. It measures about 300 meters. Over time, sediment filled this explosion crater.
Early Europeans saw its potential as a harbor. It was first known as Onehunga Basin. Later, it became Geddes Basin. But the 1930s brought big changes. The crater was reclaimed. In 1935, it was named Gloucester Park. This name honored the Duke of Gloucester’s visit to New Zealand.
However, progress has its price. From 1975 to the early 1980s, the Southwestern Motorway was built. It sliced right through Gloucester Park North. The southern part became sports grounds. The western side turned into a wetland. The Aotea Sea Scouts found a home there. They took over the Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club in 1977.
Interestingly, there was a time when Gloucester Park North almost disappeared completely. During Edward Morton’s time as Mayor of Onehunga Borough, a controversial decision was made. The council wanted to use the old crater as a rubbish tip. People protested but they were ignored. They filled it in and leveled it. But then they turned the area into a park.
Gloucester Park speedway opened in January 1935. The Governor-General himself did the honors. Yet, Onehunga Borough continued to fill and reclaim land until at least 1941.
During World War II, the army moved in. Between 1941 and 1946, they occupied Te Hopua a Rangi. Barracks sprang up along the western side. The army also used the Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club. The club celebrated its return with a dance in July 1945. By 1948, aerial photos showed little trace of the army camp. The Speedway closed during the war. It reopened later and was still running in 1961.
Today, Gloucester Park North and Te Hopua a Rangi are recognized for their unique features. The Auckland Council Unitary Plan defined Te Hopua a Rangi as an Outstanding Natural Feature in 2016. Though altered by reclamation and the motorway, the tuff ring is still visible. You can see it as a volcanic feature.
So, as you stand here at Gloucester Park North, remember its layered past. It was once a volcano. Then a harbor. Then a speedway. Later, it became an army base. Now, it is a park. Gloucester Park North stands as a testament to the changing face of Auckland. It is a place where nature and history intertwine.