Lieutenant-General William Taylor a retired senior officer of the East India Company’s Madras Army built a grand house in St Heliers. This magnificent Regency-style residence with Italianate influences is Glen Orchard. It sits proudly overlooking St Heliers Bay. Glen Orchard wasn’t just a beautiful home. It was at the heart of St Heliers’ early development.
Initially a simple raupo cottage it became Auckland’s first stud farm in 1879. Major Walmsley managed the farm and suggested the name St Heliers Bay. He was reminded of the fashionable resort Saint Helier in Jersey one of Britain’s Channel Islands. The General’s arrival caused quite a stir. His three Indian servants in their turbans were a novelty in colonial Auckland. They lived in a small flat at the back of Glen Orchard.
The General’s son Charles John Taylor married into the family of Alfred Domett New Zealand’s fourth Premier. The family’s influence extended beyond St Heliers. They played a significant role in Auckland’s early development. The Taylors were involved in banking insurance gold mining shipping and horse breeding. Their legacy lives on in many place names around Auckland.
In the 1880s Glen Orchard became the centerpiece of a planned seaside suburb. The St Heliers and Northcote Land Company aimed to develop the area for residential use. Improved transport links were crucial for attracting buyers. Reaching St Heliers by boat was quick but the land route was long and arduous. The company even built a pier. Despite efforts land sales remained low and the company failed.
Despite the company’s failure St Heliers blossomed. It became a popular destination for day trips. Moonlight excursions from Auckland were particularly popular. The opening of Tamaki Drive in 1932 transformed St Heliers into a commuter suburb. It became a popular spot for Sunday drives. The General’s imposing monument is the tallest in the Glen Innes graveyard. His funeral procession stretched for four miles.
Today St Heliers retains its charm. Its beaches cafes and views of Rangitoto Island attract many visitors. Glen Orchard a testament to the past stands as a reminder of the area’s rich history. It’s a link to the Taylors and the early elite of Auckland. Their story is woven into the very fabric of St Heliers. It’s a story of ambition family and the shaping of a vibrant seaside suburb.