Ōtahuhu Township

The heart of Ōtahuhu emerged in the 1850s along the Great South Road north of its intersection with Atkinson Avenue. By the late 1860s, more land was needed to support the rapidly-expanding township and a new large subdivision opened south of Fairburn Road to the east of the Great South Road. The expansive property, bounded by the Tamaki River to the south and east, was put up for sale on 16 July 1869. Lots sold relatively quickly across seven sections. A wharf was originally planned on the Tamaki River at the end of Gore Street (Tamaki Avenue), but it is unclear if this was ever actually built. The lot was never developed and today is a pipeline accessway. All of the current streets follow the plan of the original subdivision and Alexander Street, Cracroft Street, and Nelson Street still retain their original names. The evolution of these lots from rural farms to the residential suburb of today happened very gradually, only reaching its current density in the 1970s.

Cross Cracroft Street and then walk north along Tamaki Avenue.