Decades before the first brick was laid, Lynfield was a vital artery. This area served as part of the trading route between Waikato and Tamaki Makaurau. Imagine this land long before suburban houses. Picture Maori traversing it, carrying goods, their footsteps echoing through the desolate landscape.
But how did Lynfield get its name? Let’s jump to the early 20th century. An Australian, Albert William Irvine, established a poultry farm. He named it Linfield Poultry Farm, after his wife’s birthplace in Lindfield, New South Wales. The farm was initially on Pah Road in Epsom. Later it moved to land owned by Sir Alfred Bankart in 1913. Though Irvine moved the farm again a year later, the name stuck.
Fast forward to 1958. Lynfield College was about to open. Parents and teachers remembered Linfield Poultry Farm nearby. So, they chose the name Lynfield for the college. Subsequently, the modern suburb adopted the college’s name.
Lynfield’s development as a suburb began in the late 1950s. The Auckland Harbour Board oversaw the transformation. Town planner Robert Terence Kennedy drew inspiration from American-style suburbs. Halsey Drive became the major road winding through Lynfield. The Avenue was designed as a Parisian-style boulevard. Interestingly, streets were named after luxury cruise liners that once visited Auckland.
Early residents of Lynfield faced a challenge. The Auckland Harbour Board initially offered houses as rental properties. These came with 21-year leases. Residents wanted to buy their homes. In 1968, they presented a petition to the Harbour Board with 150 signatures. Finally, in 1974, the board relented. A shortage of funds forced them to allow residents to purchase their properties.
Lynfield’s first shop, a Four Square, opened in 1965. Housing construction continued until the late 1970s. Lynfield is more than just houses and streets. Wairaki Stream flows through the suburb. In 1975, a tiny beetle species, Microscydmus lynfieldi, was discovered here.
Lynfield has evolved from a trading route to a poultry farm. Now it is a thriving suburb with schools and parks. Lynfield College opened in 1958. It stands as a testament to the area’s commitment to education. The college adopted the motto “Disce Vivere” which means “Learn to Live”. This reflects the suburb’s spirit.
Take a moment to appreciate how Lynfield has transformed. From its humble beginnings to the community we see today, Lynfield continues to evolve.