Saint Lukes

Gazing upon Saint Lukes, Auckland, did you know it was once a swamp? Known as Ngā Anawai by the Tāmaki Māori, this area featured water-filled lava caves. These caves were formed by volcanic activity from Mount Eden and Mount Albert over 30,000 years ago. Saint Lukes sits nestled between New North Road and Sandringham Road. The northeast section, near Gribblehirst Park, held many tī kōuka (cabbage trees). Early European settlers named this part Cabbage Tree Swamp. The Crown acquired the Mount Albert area, including Saint Lukes, in 1841. Ngāti Whātua sold a vast 12,000-acre section. The rough terrain made development slow. New North Road offered an alternate route to Great North Road by the 1860s. This spurred some progress. Reverend Alexander French established a farm here in 1864. Landowner Allan Kerr Taylor granted land along New North Road to the Anglican Church. Saint Lukes Church opened its doors for the first time in November 1872. Its name arose from a community gathering months prior. The area around Saint Lukes also bears the marks of more recent history. The Wagener subdivision, an industrial area, appeared on Saint Lukes Road in 1962. St Lukes Shopping Centre followed in 1971. This marked Auckland’s second modern shopping centre. Prime Minister Keith Holyoake inaugurated it. The Mount Albert Borough Council funded it. Further extensions happened in the early 2000s. More recently, Chemist Warehouse chose Saint Lukes for its first New Zealand location in 2018. The story of Saint Lukes, from swamp to suburb, reflects Auckland’s dynamic growth.