Perhaps you have heard of Captain George Robert Chevalier? Point Chevalier is named after him. He was a musketry instructor. He served in the 65th Regiment. He was stationed at a military camp here in the 1860s. Point Chevalier’s story begins long before Captain Chevalier. Small Maori settlements thrived here. This was before European settlement in the 1840s. One settlement was at Meola Reef. Another was a fishing village at Rangi-mata-rau. That is now Point Chevalier Beach. It was a staging point. They fished for sharks off Kauri Point. This was on the inner Waitemata Harbour.
As Auckland grew, Point Chevalier gained importance. It was on the main land route out of Auckland. This was the Great North Road. A military encampment was set up here. This was during the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s. Ensign George Robert Chevalier won a target shooting challenge. This happened around 1859 at the camp. After that, the camp and then the district became Point Chevalier.
Life in Point Chevalier remained rural. This lasted until the time between the two World Wars. Rangi-mata-rau is the Maori name most associated with Point Chevalier. But this name strictly refers to the beach area. It is also known as Harbour View Reserve. The earliest name after 1840 was Point Bunbury. This was after Thomas Bunbury. He assisted with the Treaty of Waitangi signings.
Most original surveyed allotments were sold in the mid 1840s. This was done under Crown Grant. Low & Motion flour mill was established around 1848. It sat at the eastern edge of Western Springs. It was near Motions Creek. Around 1858, 127 acres was designated as a rifle range. This was east of Point Chevalier. It included the Meola Reef area.
A new rifle range opened at the end of Target Street in 1867. It was used until 1871. Later, it became market gardens. Still later, it became Selwyn Retirement Village. William Edgecumbe opened his Great Northern Hotel in 1859. It was also known as the Old Stone Jug. It sat on Great North Road. Early subdivisions began from the 1860s. Few encouraged denser settlement.
From 1867 to 1874, the area north of Great North Road was part of the Newton Highway District. South of the road was part of Arch Hill Highway District. This lasted from 1871 to 1874. Then, the Pt Chevalier Road Board district was formed. It included Western Springs. This lasted until 1921. Then, it joined Auckland City Council.
The first store at Pt Chevalier opened around 1867. This tied in with the opening of the Auckland Provincial Lunatic Asylum. It was just across the road. In the mid 1870s, Auckland City Council obtained Motion’s property. It was at Western Springs. They established the municipal pumping station. This provided the city’s water supply.
Pt Chevalier’s Coronation Hall was built in 1911. It later served as the district’s second public library. This was from 1938. The current library is on the old site. More subdivisions took place just before World War One. These were more successful. Public transport was provided.
The Anglican Church of the Ascension was built on Dignan Street in 1918. The current Pt Chevalier School began in 1924. It was a side school to Gladstone. The first Pt Chevalier police station opened in 1925. Thomas Dignan’s house called “The Pines” was gifted in 1927. Hallyburton Johnstone gifted it. The surrounds became a recreation ground. People could play bowls, croquet, and tennis.
The ASB Bank building dates from the 1930s. The Ambassador Theatre was built around 1929. The Dixieland Cabaret was popular. It was near the end of the Point. It was destroyed by fire early in the 1930s. The main subdivisions of the Pasadena Estate occurred from 1926 to 1928. Pasadena Intermediate School opened in 1942. Point Chevalier has transformed over the years. From Maori settlements to a military camp. From rural landscapes to a growing suburb. Point Chevalier carries its rich history with pride.