Drawn to the gentle hum of community, here we are at Sunnyside Domain. This is more than just a park. It is a place of recreation and history. Sunnyside Domain offers a glimpse into Auckland’s diverse past.
Sunnyside Domain is named appropriately. It reflects the open and inviting atmosphere it provides. The park offers a space for leisure. The park has sports and community events.
Papatoetoe, where Sunnyside Domain is located, boasts a rich history. The name Papatoetoe means grounds where toetoe grows. This refers to the native Austroderia grasses. They were abundant in this area. English settlers started calling the area Papatoetoe in the 1850s. The spelling evolved over time. The local post office adopted the Papatoetoe spelling and it stuck.
The first evidence of Tāmaki Māori in the Manukau Harbour area dates back to the 14th century. Papatoetoe played a vital role as part of the Waokauri / Pūkaki portage. It connected the Manukau Harbour with the Tāmaki River. This route was especially useful. It helped to avoid the Te Tō Waka and Karetu portages controlled by those at Ōtāhuhu / Mount Richmond. Papatoetoe lies within the rohe of Waiohua. This includes the modern Tainui/Waiohua iwi Te Ākitai Waiohua.
The proverb defines the boundaries of Papatoetoe. Kohuora is to the west. The shores of the Tāmaki River is inland. A headdress of toetoe is in the middle.
Compared to other parts of Auckland there are few fortified pā sites in Papatoetoe. This is due to the flat land. One known pā exists in the Papatoetoe area. You can find it at Cemetery Crater. It is also known as Hillside South Park. The pā is called Te Pā-o-te-tū-tahi-atu. This name describes the pā as temporary. The surrounding landscape was not ideal for fortifications.
In the early colonial era the Waokauri / Pūkaki portage remained active. It was used to transport goods to Papatoetoe until the 1860s.
The Papatoitoi Highway District was the first local government in the area. It was defined in 1865. The Papatoetoe railway station opened in 1875. This connected Papatoetoe to Auckland in the north. Dairy farming became popular in the area by the 1880s.
Housing estates began developing in Papatoetoe in the early 1900s. By 1911, the population of Papatoetoe had doubled to 400 people. Papatoetoe became a town district in 1919. The area grew fast in the 1920s. During the Great Depression, growth slowed. Papatoetoe became known for poultry farming.
Middlemore Hospital opened in 1947. It was meant as a temporary military hospital. But later it became permanent. Papatoetoe became a borough in 1946. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Māori Affairs Department encouraged growth. This led to an influx of Urban Māori. They moved from rural areas.
The Auckland Southern Motorway led to a population boom. The population increased four times after World War II. The motorway opened between Ellerslie and Redoubt Road in 1955.
Papatoetoe became a city in 1965. It was then combined into Manukau City in 1989. Papatoetoe has the unofficial title of Little India. This is because 40 percent of the suburb’s population is of Indian ethnicity.
Sunnyside Tennis Club is located within the Sunnyside Domain. It was originally formed as Puhunui Tennis Club in 1955.
As we conclude our visit, consider the layers of history beneath our feet. From its volcanic origins to its role in connecting communities. Sunnyside Domain is a testament to the enduring spirit of Tāmaki Makaurau. It is a legacy that continues to evolve.