Auckland Gas Company Building (487-489 Lake Road)

ANZ Bank was once the North Shore home of the Auckland Gas Company, which was responsible for supplying coal gas to the residents and businesses of the Takapuna area.

Across Northcroft Street was Hutchinson Brothers Ltd.’s grocery and provisions store. Peter and Anne Hutchinson of Ponsonby founded the company in 1882 and eventually had seven stores around Auckland. The Takapuna outlet was managed by Norm Hutchinson, who moved to Birkenhead in 1909 and took over as manager in the 1920s. Beside the building on Northcroft Street, there was a sunny seat where Takapuna mayor John Guinivan (1931–1950) would often sit. Evidently much of the Takapuna Borough Council’s business was conducted from that seat.

Continue down Northcroft Street. Stop at the bottom of the Sentinel tower and look across the street.