Tāmaki Bridge & Toetoe Dreaming

Tāmaki Bridge first opened in 1851. The exact date of its completion is unknown, but it was reported as half-finished in April. It was originally built as dry-stone scoria piers connected by wooden platforms, and a newspaper at the time, the Southern Cross, doubted the stability of the bridge when combined with the effects of the tides. By 1859, the bridge needed serious repair and was substantially rebuilt.

Later in the century, the bridge was the scene of frequent traffic accidents. The speed limit at the time made it an offence to drive over the Tāmaki Bridge faster than walking pace. The mayor of Onehunga Borough, Dr William R. C. Erson, was charged with breaking this law in 1900, though he was not penalised since he was attending an urgent medical case.

In the 1920s, the Ōtāhuhu Borough and Manukau County Councils considered replacing the bridge, but due to many discussions and controversies this was considerably delayed. When work finally began, the bridge was widened, the arch and roadway were concreted, and new abutments were constructed, meaning very little of the original fabric of the bridge was left visible. The bridge was reopened for two-way traffic in December 1931.

From 1912, the bridge marked the boundary between the Ōtāhuhu Borough Council and the Papatoetoe Borough Council. In 1985, Ōtāhuhu became part of Auckland City. Meanwhile, Papatoetoe was elevated to its own city in 1965 and then merged with Manukau City Council in 1989. Since the creation of the supercity in 2010, the bridge marks the transition between the suburbs of Papatoetoe and Ōtāhuhu.

Embedded into the concrete of the footpath at the foot of the bridge is a commemorative plaque. As part of Papatoetoe’s 150th Jubilee celebrations in 2012, New Zealand artist Denis O’Connor was invited to create a series of heritage markers that would be unique to the area. These were installed in early 2013 at selected sites along a route running from Tāmaki Bridge, through Hunters Corner and old Papatoetoe, to Kohuora Park. The first plaque in the sequence can be seen here, on the Papatoetoe side of the Tāmaki Bridge.

The series includes triangular markers, rectangular interpretation blocks, and milepost artworks. Denis O’Connor’s inspiration was the original set of tōtara mileposts that were installed along Great South Road in the 1860s. This plaque is made of bluestone, similar to the blue chip that was once used to surface roads in the local area. O’Connor designed a special toetoe motif that acknowledges the cultural and historical significance of the plant in this area, and selected a typeface that reflects back to the time when Papatoetoe began to develop as a commercial hub around the 1920s. The design is intended to traverse the decades between the 1860s and today, referencing key elements and events in the development of the community.

Continue walking along Great South Road.