NORTH SHORE HISTORY with David Verran
Walking around Takapuna in 1911 & 1921
If you were to stand at the corner of Hurstmere and Lake Roads in 1911 and decide to walk in the direction of Milford, on the right hand side of the road, Takapuna Beach would be visible despite the odd tree. Eventually you would make it to Newson Sheppard’s ‘Lake House’ boarding-house (now of course the ‘Lake House’ building at Barrys Point), the ‘Mon Desir’ store managed by Mr Schollum, the ‘Mon Desir’ tea kiosk, the ‘Mon Desir Hotel’ and a little further along the ‘Lake Billiard Saloon and General Store’. This would take you to The Promenade, where you could look further down the road at the impressive residence of Ewen William Alison, former local Member of Parliament, soon to be Mayor of the new Borough of Takapuna and long time managing director of the Devonport Steam Ferry Company.
If you then crossed over Hurstmere Road, watching out for the odd horse and cart, and decided to walk back towards Lake Road, you would reach George and Thomas Schollum’s store and Post Office agency, at what would later be Anzac Street. There would then be some private houses, a dressmaker, more houses and on the corner with Lake Road the bakery and tea rooms of William Henry Hall – hence Hall’s Corner. Looking back along Lake Road towards Devonport, you would see on the beach side corner Julius Arthur Bradstreet’s drapery.
Just ten years later, all had changed. If you again started at the corner of Hurstmere and Lake Roads in 1921 and walked in the direction of Milford, you would immediately be walking past a branch of R. and W. Hellaby the butchers, a builder’s workshop and a bootmaker. Next was Roberts and Parker who were general blacksmiths, coachbuilders and painters, then an outlet for the Pupuke Dairy Company, a land agent, another blacksmith, a fishmonger and some private houses. Takapuna Beach was already becoming obscured. Then was the ‘Lake House Flats’ (formerly ‘Lake House’), a hairdresser and billiard saloon, a confectioner and fancy goods, some private houses, the ‘Mon Desir Hotel’, some more private houses and then The Promenade.
Ewen William Alison still lived on the other side of The Promenade facing Rangitoto, but slightly further on was the new Post Office and Telephone Bureau. If you then crossed to the other side of the road, minding the steam tram and motor cars, and walked back towards Lake Road, there was just one house until you reached Anzac Street and the big macrocarpa tree. From then on there was a hairdresser, tobacconist and laundry, a chemist, a bootmaker, some private houses, a tea room and confectionery, a baker and a store on the corner – no longer Mr Hall.
Having reached the corner and looking back along Lake Road to Devonport you would see the Takapuna Borough Council Chamber on the beach side. If you turned 180 degrees and looked towards Anzac Street, you would see the depot for the Takapuna Tramway and Ferry Company. On the easterly side of Lake Road, you would see the office of the New Zealand Insurance Company, a land agent, some private houses, W.P. Cochran’s drapery, a confectioner, timber merchant and between Huron and Anzac Street was the Methodist Church.
If you decided to proceed to the corner of Lake Road and Anzac Street, you would see on the right hand side looking back to Hurstmere Road the Forresters’ Hall and motion picture theatre and further on St Peter’s Anglican Church. On the left hand side, looking back to Hurstmere Road was the Police Station. Turning 180 degrees, on the left hand side was a few houses and in the distance was St Joseph’s Catholic Orphanage. On the right hand side was St George’s Presbyterian Church, some private houses, the Lake Primary school, and then further private houses.
The Poynton: People
