“Hill what?” someone might have asked before August 2021. Prior to this date Hillpark wasn’t officially a suburb. Now, welcome to Hillpark in Auckland. It is a suburb with a unique story.
Hillpark’s journey from forest to suburb is quite interesting. Once it was part of Manukau City. Then it became part of Auckland Council in 2010. The New Zealand Geographic Board officially recognised Hillpark as a suburb in August 2021. This recognition followed a proposal by the Hillpark Residents’ Association. The association wanted to make the suburb’s name official. They highlighted Hillpark’s unique character.
Let’s journey back in time. In the 19th century much of Hillpark was native forest. This forest was known as Ligar’s Bush. It was named after Charles Whybrow Ligar. Some of this original forest remains today. You can find it in Hillpark’s parks and reserves.
In 1910, David Laurence Nathan built a summer residence here. David was the son of merchant David Nathan. He named the property “The Hill”. A fire destroyed the original building. The estate was rebuilt in 1925.
Fast forward to 1958. A proposal suggested turning part of the Nathan family’s estate into a subdivision. This would be known as Hillpark Estate. The name referenced the Nathan family home. The construction of the Auckland Southern Motorway helped Hillpark develop.
Construction in Hillpark began in 1960. The first sections of the Hillpark subdivision went on the market in 1961. An advertisement described Hillpark as a modern subdivision. It featured underground services and street lanterns. It also promised a shopping area and public reserves. Architect Ron Sang designed some of Hillpark’s houses in the 1960s. The remaining part of the Nathan estate became David Nathan Park.
The southern motorway extension opened in 1963. It included on and off ramps at Hill Road. The Hillpark Shopping Centre was built in 1966. Housing construction continued until 1973.
Auckland Council recognised Hillpark as a Special Character Area in 2016. Hillpark has a distinct architectural style. You can find International Style modernist houses here. There are also mid-20th century brick bungalows. Plus, you can discover Arts and Crafts and English Cottage style houses. The area features large front yards, wide roads and many trees.
Hillpark is also a native sanctuary. It has large areas of native forest and parkland. These include Orford Park, David Park and Hillcrest Grove Reserve.
Today Hillpark covers 1.74 square kilometers. It had an estimated population of 6500 in June 2024. Hillpark offers a blend of history nature and unique suburban character. Take a walk around. Explore its parks and admire its architecture. Hillpark offers a glimpse into Auckland’s past and present.