Imagine fruit boxes heading to Auckland markets. They prominently display the name Greenhithe. This marked the beginning of Greenhithe becoming a known place.
Greenhithe a northwestern suburb of Auckland has a captivating story to tell. It sits on the North Shore. Greenhithe is more than just a place on the map. It is a place with a rich history and a strong community spirit.
Let’s step back in time. Before European settlers arrived, the area was known as Tauhinu. It was a fortified Te Kawerau ā Maki pā. This pā overlooked the entrance to Oruamo or Hellyers Creek. The area was settled until the 1820s. Tauhinu gets its name from a Pomaderris shrub. This shrub grew in the area and was known for its medicinal properties.
Around 1700, Kapetaua of the Hauraki Gulf attacked Tauhinu pā. This was retribution for being stranded on Bean Rock. During conflicts in the 1740s, Pahauroa chief of Tauhinu, was wounded and died at Judges Bay.
In the early 1820s, many Māori left the North Shore. They fled to Waikato or Northland. This was due to the threat of war during the Musket Wars. Ngāti Whātua maintained a presence at Tauhinu pā.
The Greenhithe area became part of the Mahurangi Block. The New Zealand Government purchased it in the early 1840s. Kauri gum digging became a major source of income. This was for European settlers in the late 1840s.
The Gamble Brothers, shoemakers from Auckland purchased property in 1854 and 1855. George Deane was the first permanent European resident. He settled in 1858. He struggled to make a living and left for Britain in 1861. Shippers called the western headland Humbug Point. This was due to sand banks requiring detours.
Thomas and Mary Forgham established a self-sustaining community in the mid-1860s. They called their farmhouse Fern Bank. Later, it became Grey Oaks. They planted fruit trees and farmed livestock.
Henry James Blyth renamed the farmstead Greenhithe in the 1880s. He named it after Greenhithe in Kent England. Blyth had kept his yacht there. Orchards growing apples lemons and pears became the major industry.
In the 1910s and 1920s Greenhithe developed as a rural community. Thomas Hunter started a reliable passenger and shipping service in 1908. The Greenhithe Hall was built in 1914. The first store opened in 1917. The Jonkers family opened a fruit canning factory in the 1920s.
The Auckland Harbour Bridge opened in 1959. This closely connected Greenhithe to Auckland. The Greenhithe ferry service closed in 1960. A boatyard opened in 1958. Boat repair became a major enterprise. Ferro Cement Ltd began producing concrete hulled boats in the mid-1960s.
After the Upper Harbour Bridge was built in 1975 Greenhithe grew again. North Shore City Council targeted Greenhithe for population growth in 2002. In 2007, the Upper Harbour Motorway opened.
Today Greenhithe is a thriving suburb. It offers a blend of history community and natural beauty. From its early days as a Māori pā to its development as a fruit-producing hub. From a rural community to a modern suburb Greenhithe has a unique story. It is a story etched in the land and the hearts of its people.
As you explore Greenhithe remember its past. The name Greenhithe represents transformation and growth.