What if these waters could talk? Swanson Bay might tell tales of kauri logging. It could share stories of gumdigging trades from the 1880s. Swanson, an outlying suburb of West Auckland, has a rich history. It sits west of Henderson, surrounded by the Waitākere Ranges.
Swanson developed as a service center. This was for the kauri logging and gumdigging industries. The town grew along the train line. It became a rural hub. Swanson was also an early tourist spot for Aucklanders. They visited Redwood Park on the banks of the Swanson Stream.
Before people settled here, this area was a warm lowland ecosystem. Kauri, rimu, rātā, kahikatea, and rewarewa trees dominated. Near the Swanson Stream, kahikatea and tōtara trees thrived in the alluvial flood zone.
Swanson is in the rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki. They are a Tāmaki Māori iwi. They traditionally settled in West Auckland and the Waitākere Ranges. Pukearuhe, a defensive pā, stood in the hills above Swanson. The area was part of a walking track. It connected Te Henga / Bethells Beach with Wai Huruhuru Manawa. That is the southwestern section of the Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek.
The Swanson Stream valley was known as Waiwhauwhaupaku. This name refers to the Pseudopanax arboreus. These five-finger trees grew densely in the area. Southern Swanson was called Waimoko. This refers to the skinks and geckos found there.
Pioneer William Swanson settled here in 1852. He logged kauri trees along the Swanson Stream. By the 1870s, he criticized kauri logging practices. The township of Swanson was established in the mid-1880s. Many residents received land cheaply through government programs.
In 1881, the Swanson railway station opened. It connected the area to Auckland. The station became a busy depot. This was for the kauri logging trade of the northern Waitākere Ranges. The town became a service center. It supported people in logging and kauri gum digging. Many early residents established farms and orchards. They supplemented their income with kauri gum digging. In the late 19th century, Croatian immigrants worked land at Swanson. Their kauri gum digging was more intensive.
Swanson became a popular tourist destination. People came from Auckland to visit the Waitākere Falls. They also visited Redwood Park on the Swanson River. Later, tourists preferred to visit the falls via Henderson. In 1905, the Waitākere Dam was constructed. It ensured better drinking water for Auckland. Swanson township provided much of the labor for the project. By 1907, a tramline connected the dam site and the Swanson railway station.
Redwood Park was a popular picnic spot. On New Year’s Day 1900, thousands visited Swanson. In 1934, the park was named Redwood Park. Three thousand redwood trees were planted.
In early 1940, Redwood Park became a training camp for soldiers during World War II. Later, the Royal New Zealand Air Force used it for bush warfare training. The army camp became a focus for the Swanson community. The camp was vacated in August 1945.
Local winemaker Milan Babić Yozin started growing wine in Swanson in 1942. In 1970, Swanson’s Redwood Park hosted Redwood 70. It was billed as New Zealand’s first music festival.
Today, Swanson is a vibrant community. It offers access to both city and country facilities. Swanson railway station is on the North Auckland Line. It is the terminus for Western Line suburban passenger services.
As you stand here at Swanson Bay, consider the stories it holds. From its Māori roots to its logging history, Swanson has played a vital role in Auckland’s development.