Historical summary: 650A Mount Albert Road/ 8A Rewi Road, Mt Roskill

8/13/2019 Historical summary: 650A Mount Albert Road/ 8A Rewi Road, Mt Roskill

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Historical summary:650A Mount Albert Road/8A Rewi Road, Mt Roskill

For the Mt Roskill

(Puketapapa) HistoricalSociety

Lisa J TruttmanNovember 2013



The white outline indicates the extent of Patrick Donovan’s Epsom farm, possibly “Greenmeadows”, from the 1850s to 1884when it was subdivided. The hatched area is the farm purchased by Joseph Banks, “Sefton”. Background map is “County of

Eden”, 1890, Roll 46, LINZ records, crown copyright.



The house in historical context

The house at 650A Mt Albert / 8A Rewi Road dates from 1884-1885 according to found records, andappears to be an example of “gentleman’s residences” from this time. It needs to be seen in the con-text of other such residences so far known to have existed in the Mt Roskill area up to the period of

the First World War: James Williamson’s Pah Homestead, 1879; Joseph May’s c.1880 homesteadclose to Puketapapa/Mount Roskill; Daniel Arkell’s homestead on Hillsborough Road 1902; DrFrederick Gordon’s home, also on Hillsborough Road, c.1905; “Coleraine” on Warren Avenue,1905; and “Atalanga”, the Gunson home on St Andrews Road, c.1906. “Sefton”, later known as“Milton”, is therefore an early example, and the second-oldest of its type after the Pah Homestead.

The early colonial landowners

Dennett Hersee Heather (1818-1866) was one of the original two crowngrantees for Allotment 52, Section 10, Suburbs of Auckland, 1 upon whichthe house at 650A Mt Albert/8A Rewi Road is now situated. He appears tohave settled in the Waipa district in the Waikato during the early 1850s; 2

in December 1862, it was reported that Heather was leaving Waipa, andsending away his cattle and sheep. 3 His house was burned down duringthe early stages of the Waikato War in 1864. 4 He sought refuge inOtahuhu, and was in Onehunga by March 1864, apparently familiar withHenry Hayr at Three Kings. 5 He died in Onehunga 28 January 1866, aged47. 6 His name appears to have been perpetuated in the naming ofHeather’s Creek in the Waipa district.

Mr Lester , the other crown grantee, is less known, possibly W B Lester,an auctioneer trading in Auckland by May 1841. 7

Heather transferred title to Allotment 52 to a Mr Wilson in March 1851, probably around the time hesettled in Waipa. Wilson in turn transferred the property in 1853 to publican Patrick Donovan , 8 Donovan already an owner of other property near Three Kings, 9 as well as three other allotmentsadjoining No. 52. 10 These allotments combined were possibly Donovan’s “Green Meadows” of 60acres extent, advertised for sale in June 1861. 11

These magnificent Meadows, so well known and justly celebrated, spread themselves out in one con-tinuous expanse of Sixty Acres. They are strongly fenced with Scoria, and present a matchless swardof Grass. 12

In February 1862, Donovan’s farm, including Allotment 52, was transferred to a Mr Russell, 13 possibly Thomas Russell . In turn, the farm was transferred to William Thorne Buckland in 1868, then

Alfred Buckland in 1872, James Buckland in 1877, Alfred Buckland again in 1882, then finally tomortgagors Owen and others in 1884. 14 From that point, Donovan’s farm was subdivided and sold in pieces.

“Sefton”

In July 1884, Joseph Banks purchased Lots 14 and 15 of this subdivision, parts of Allotment 52. 15

Banks may have first arrived in Auckland 17 May 1860 on the Red Jacket , from Liverpool viaMelbourne. 16 By 1863 Joseph Banks was in Otahuhu. 17 In 1866, he was honorary secretary to theAuckland Racing Club, 18 and had contracts supplying goods to the military. 19 In 1867 he marriedSusan Buckland, daughter of Alfred Buckland. 20 The first record of Joseph Banks residing on PahRoad, Epsom is in 1885, 21 so the house appears to date from this point. The architect is not known.

By 1887 at least, the Banks’ home was known as “Sefton”.22

Joseph Banks died a year later.

Believed to be a portrait of D H Heather. Fromwww.myheritage.com



It is with regret that we have to record the death of Mr Joseph Banks, managing director of the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company, at his residence, Sefton, Epsom. He came out to Auckland some 25 years ago, and proved himself a shrewd man of business. During the busy days ofthe Thames gold field he managed Mr A Buckland's cattle business at the Thames. Afterwards hebecame partner in the extensive business of Messrs. Fisher and Co., Queen-street, which was after-

wards merged into the business of the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company. Mr. Bankswas esteemed and respected by all who enjoyed his friendship and acquaintance, and has passedaway at the comparatively early age of 48 from that fell disease, consumption. About a year ago hebroke a blood vessel at Wellington, and since then has been in indifferent health. During the pastthree months he had got rapidly worse and weaker, and although Dr. Scott and Dr. Lewis had doneall for him that medical skill could suggest, it was evident the end was drawing near, and he died asabove, yesterday afternoon. Mr Banks was married to the eldest daughter of Mr. Alfred Buckland,and leaves a widow and nine children (five sons and four daughters) to mourn their loss. The funeralwill take place to-morrow afternoon, the cortege leaving his late residence for St. Mark's, Remuera,at three o'clock. 23

The funeral of the late Mr Joseph Banks took place on Tuesday afternoon, from his late residence,

Sefton, Epsom, and the respect and esteem in which the deceased gentleman was held was manifestedby the large and influential concourse which assembled to pay him the last tribute of respect. Therewas a large attendance in carriages and on foot to follow the remains from Epsom, and the con-course was very largely increased when the funeral reached Newmarket. Mr A Buckland, father-in-law of the deceased, and Mr Joseph Banks, eldest son, were the chief mourners. The coffin washeavily laden with wreaths, bouquets, and immortelles. The funeral service in the church, and at the

grave, was impressively read by the Rev. I. Richards, incumbent of St. Mark's, Remuera. 24

Susan Banks and her family remained at “Sefton”, where a disastrous fire took place in 1895 in thestables.

On Thursday night the stables at “Sefton," Epsom, were totally destroyed by fire. They are onlyinsured for half their value, so that Mrs Banks is a heavy loser. The origin of the fire is unknown,everything being locked safely at ten p.m. Shortly afterwards the family were disturbed by loudcrackling of flames, but the building was in flames before anyone could reach it. 25

A garden party was held at “Sefton” for the wedding (which took place 8 February 1896) of AliceDorothy Banks to John Charles Towes. 26 “Sefton” was advertised for let in September 1896. 27 TheBanks family household goods were up for auction there in March 1897. 28

“Milton Park”

Michael Corcoran purchased “Sefton” in April 1897, 29 as well as adjoining land in 1899, 30 creatinga dairy farm he named “Milton Park”, to which he retired. The first recorded link of Corcoran and thename “Milton” is in June 1899. 31 He subdivided his property around 1900, likely creating MiltonPark Road as an access to the homestead (later called Milton Avenue, now Rewi Road), although thisside road off Pah Road was not dedicated until long after his death, in 1922. 32

Mr Michael Corcoran, Old Colonist, was born at Dunmore, Galway, Ireland, in 1834, and educatedthere. In early life he worked for eleven years at a mill in Roscommon and in 1860 sailed for

Australia in the “Eagle,” landing in Melbourne. Three months later he joined the Otago “rush” andwas with his brother at Gabriel's Gully. He afterwards engaged in road contracting, then went to the

Molyneux, being the first man up the river after the receipt of Messrs. Hartley and Riley's report. Hewas also at Adam's Gully, Fraser's station, where he stayed for six months and averaged £250 aweek. In 1863, Mr. Corcoran took the first hotel (the Galway Arms) on the Dunstan and conducted it

for two years. His next move was to Havelock, where he built the theatre and ran a company for some time; the venture proved a most successful one, and he averaged £100 per night. From Havelock Mr. Corcoran went to Wellington, where he spent eighteen weeks: then he went to



Westport and opened a store, which he carried on for twelve months. The Charleston “rush” sawhim again on the move, and he sailed a vessel called the “Constant Bay,” with which he made muchmoney, carrying stores to the new fields. In 1868, he left Westport for Auckland and took over theGreyhound Hotel, in which three previous landlords had failed in one year. Like all his undertakingsthis turned out successful, for he conducted the hotel for ten years, taking £10,000 per annum. Sell-

ing out in 1878, Mr. Corcoran took the Thames Hotel, from which he sold out three weeks later for£5470. His next venture was the old “Metropolitan,” where he stayed for two years, and then soldout for £3000. Mr. Corcoran bought the Star and Garter Hotel at Coromandel, which was burntdown in the great fire and was replaced by a very fine large house. During the building of theCalliope Dock, he run the Flagstaff Hotel at the North Shore, and on selling out from there took overthe Northern Wairoa Hotel at Dargaville. Mr. Corcoran new lives in retirement at Pa [sic] Road,

Mount Roskill, Auckland. 33

He died at his “residence, Milton Park Road” in August 1902. 34

The year 1902 is thinning the early colonists. Mr Michael Corcoran, who has just gone over to the great majority, left his home in Roscomon in 1855, and landed at Melbourne in the same year. He

was a miller by trade, but, having a liking for a gold digger's life, laboured unremittingly on various fields of Australia, wooing success in 1860, The discovery of gold in New Zealand brought many goldseekers from Australia, and Mr Corcoran was one of the first who landed at Dunedin, and joineda rush to Gabriel Gully. Here Mr Corcoran added rapidly to his wealth. In 1863 Mr Corcoran, get-ting tired of a digger's life, came to Auckland, and carried on hotel-keeping very successfully. Healso invested his spare capital in property in Queen-street, which is more than double in value to-day. Six years ago Mr Corcoran retired from active life, and purchased the property of the late Mr

Banks at Epsom, and other property adjoining, making a large and valuable holding. Mr Corcoranwas married twice. He leaves four children to mourn their loss. 35

By September 1902, “Milton” was for sale.

THAT WELL KNOWN PROPERTY AT EPSOM, "MILTON," comprising the large, handsome, and substantially built Residence, together with over 17 acres of the very finest land. The Property will beoffered in one or more lots. 36

Messrs S Vaile and Sons offered to-day the property known as "Milton," at the junction of the Pah Road and Mount Albert Road, by order of the executors of the late Mr M Corcoran. The residence,with 11 acres of land, having a frontage of 694 ft to Pah Road and 660 ft to Mount Albert Road, was

started at £2000, and was eventually knocked down to Mr F G Ewington for £2900. An adjoining piece of land, containing six acres, with 361 ft to Mount Albert Road, was sold to Mr J Haslett for£775. 37

It was offered for sale again in October 1902, but this apparently fell through. A Miss Corcoran wasstill living at “Milton” on Pah Road in December 1902. 38 The Misses Corcoran sold their householdeffects at “Milton” on Pah Road in May 1903. 39 The next owners, the Andreae family, were installed

by July that year. 40

Charles Oscar Andreae (1856-1929) was a wool exporter and kauri gum merchant. 41 Andreae leftfor England just after April 1913, selling his household effects from “Milton”. 42 The Andreaes laterreturned to Auckland and settled in Remuera. One daughter, Gladys Ethel, became the third wife(1947) of Eric Mareo (convicted for the murder of his second wife, Thelma) after being a physio-therapist at Mt Eden Gaol. 43

11 lots of “Milton Estate” was offered for sale in October 1921. “There are ELEVEN LOTS, mostly

61ft. by 200 ft All are very rich, level, volcanic soil, standing a little above the road and free from stone, close to Royal Oak trams. As residential sections it would be very hard to surpass these in the suburbs of Auckland.” 44



The next owner of “Milton” was John Howard Dalton (1859-1940), the title put in the name of his wife Christina, from

November 1921, 45 although Dalton is recorded as residing at“Milton” from at least 1915. 46

J H Dalton was set up in business as owner of a tailoring fac-tory on Victoria Street West, “at the foot of Nelson Street” byDecember 1880. 47 He married Christina HowatsonMcSkimming, daughter of William and Elizabeth CampbellMcSkimming, in 1885. 48 In 1889, he obtained a patent for“Dalton’s Combination Coat and Vest.” 49

The tailoring trade in Auckland furnishes no better example of success than that of Mr J H Dalton, the well-known manufac-turing tailor and woollen draper, of Queen-street. In 1881 hecommenced business in a modest way in one of the side streetsof the city and, being a good tradesman, gradually acquired a

sound business connection. As the result of careful study, heevolved and perfected some important improvements in the artof fitting, and these secured for him the patronage of manywho had become dis-satisfied with the old-tailor, ill-fitting

system. He also improved upon the old method of local purchase, by importing his woollens direct from the manufacturers, and thus securing to his customers the advantage of newer styles and savingto them the percentage of profit that had previously gone into the pockets of middle-men. Thus thebusiness was quickly built up, and in 1885 Mr Dalton was compelled to remove into larger premisesin Victoria-street East, where he remained until the continued expansion of his connection and thenecessity for greater accommodation compelled him in 1888 to remove to his present central andcommodious premises in Queen-street, near the Auckland Savings Bank. These premises have alsobeen thrice enlarged, as a gratifying result of the development of the business, and finally the wholeof the workrooms were taken up for shop purposes, and the factory removed lower down the street.

Mr J H Dalton is a large and liberal employer of labour. More than one hundred hands are con- stantly engaged on order work alone, while an additional hundred are employed on the now cele-brated “Footballer” brand of ready-made clothing, which is prepared for immediate wear. Thisclothing has a reputation for excellence of material, good style and finish, and thorough serviceable-ness. The garments are guaranteed a perfect fit, and cannot be distinguished from made-to-measure

suits by anyone, even an expert. The goods are made up each season, according to the prevailing fashion, and to avoid accumulating out-of-date stock, independent of any question of the cost of the goods or the prices they bring. This is a capital system for the man or youth who wears ready-madeclothes, as it assures to him apparel of the latest style. The most recent addition to the factory is adepartment for mackintosh coats, which is still in its infancy, but which nevertheless employs morethan twenty hands already. The mackintoshes turned out from this branch of the business, so far,have given the greatest satisfaction, and the industry promises to become a very important one. It isunnecessary to say much about the order department of Mr Dalton’s business. This has alreadymade its mark in Auckland for fashionable cut, excellence of workmanship and superiority of materi-als. We may add however, that Mr Dalton was successful in carrying off all the first prizes for high-class tailoring at the Dunedin Exhibition, which was a splendid achievement, seeing that there werethirty-nine entries in this department, some of them being from Sydney and Melbourne. One of the

judges added a memo to the award to the effect that seldom at Home, and never before in theColonies, had he seen such work. 50

A son, John Howard Dalton (1895-1964) married Elsie Laurel Bethell of Te Henga at the AvondalePresbyterian Church in 1919. 51 The couple settled at Te Poi as farmers. In February 1922, one of

their daughters was born at “Milton”.52

In 1930, soon after Dalton retired from active business, he advertised his “Gentleman’s Residence”as being “for sale, lease or exchange for Farm Property.” At this time, it was described as two

Image from Auckland Industrial andMining Handbook 1898.



Above: 1926 survey plan, DP 19237, LINZ records, showing the extent of Dalton’s property. Below: 1940aerial photograph (Auckland Council website)



storeys, 15 rooms with a garage, stable and cowshed, two double tennis courts, including English andtropical trees. A “beautiful drive right up to front door” was referred to. 53 Indeed, the aerial photo-graph of the property in 1940 shows the house linked to Rewi Road by a drive lined by mature trees.54 The true frontage of the house appears to have been the side facing Pah Road. In 1940, J H Daltondied, still at the house.

DALTON, On April 2 at his late residence, Milton, Rewi Road, off Pah Road, John Howard, dearlybeloved husband of Christina H Dalton in his eighty-second year. 55

The death has occurred of Mr John Howard Dalton, aged 82 of Rewi Road, Epsom. Mr Dalton wasknown in Auckland for his connection with the firm of J H Dalton and Company Limited, wholesalewarehousemen, being actively engaged in the business until about six months ago. Coming to

New Zealand at the age of six, Mr Dalton opened a retail tailoring business 53 years ago. He gaveup this business after some 30 years in favour of the wholesale concern, being also the director of

several including the Napier Woollen Mills. Mr Dalton was a life member of the Pakuranga HuntClub, and was formerly well known in athletic circles. He is survived by his wife, three sons andthree daughters, there being 11 grandchildren. 56

Dalton’s property was sold to Edwin St Clair Syme (1877-1954) in 1944, 57 and apparently convertedto apartments (address 8A Rewi Road) by 1946. 58 Syme was born at Mt Somers in May 1877, andwas married to Mary Frances Collison in 1906. 59 His widow transferred the property, now just overa acre, with access to both Mt Albert and Rewi Roads, to retired baker Horace John Edmund George

Advertisement, Auckland Star 6 November 1930



in 1955, and in 1961 it was sold again to the Grendall Investment Company, and the remaining property subdivided into separate titles. 60 By 1962, both titles were in the name of the Polletts.

George Henry Doyle transferred the house in 1962 to Alfred William Gordon Pollett and his wifeCecily Sandford Pollett, 61 for £7500. The Polletts embarked on an £8000 internal renovation of the

old house, now called “Ye Gables Guest House”. In 1964, it was reported that the Mt RoskillBorough Council ordered that the renovations be torn down, as they were proceeded with without a permit. 62 In 1970, Cecily Sandford Ellison (after another marriage) inherited Gordon Pollett’s shareof the property, and a series of private owners have followed since then. 63

The house as apartments. Sunday News 20 September 1964



Notes

1 Deeds index 2A.767, LINZ records

2 Southern Cross , 17 June 1853, p. 3; 4 November 1856, p. 3; 12 April 1865, p. 4

3 Taranaki Herald , 13 December 1862, p. 3; Southern Cross , 7 June 1865, p. 5

4 Southern Cross , 4 February 1864, p. 3

5 Notice, Southern Cross , 31 March 1864, p. 1

6 Death notice, Southern Cross , 29 January 1866, p. 3

7 New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator , 22 May 1841, p. 2


9 Allotment 7 of Section 13 Suburbs of Auckland

10 Allots 53, 54 and 55. Deeds index 2A.770, LINZ records.

11 Southern Cross , 25 June 1861, p. 2

12 Southern Cross , 25 June 1861, p. 2



15 Deeds index 18A.910, LIN records

16 Southern Cross , 25 May 1860, p. 3

17 Southern Cross , 2 August 1863, p. 1

18 NZ Herald , 10 January 1867, p. 4

19 Southern Cross , 9 March 1866, p. 420 BDM database; http://www.johnpemberton.co.nz/genealogy, sighted 12 November 2013

21 Advertisement for a general servant by Mrs J Banks, NZ Herald , 20 May 1885, p. 1

22 Advertisement, NZ Herald , 4 May 1887, p. 1

23 Obit, NZ Herald , 7 May 1888, p. 5

24 NZ Herald , 10 May 1888, p. 4

25 NZ Herald , 2 March 1895, p. 4

26 Info on Buckland Family of Highwic, NZ Historic Places Trust, http://www.historicplaces.org.nz/

placestovisit/auckland/highwic/teacherresourcesfamily.aspx, sighted 12 November 201327 Advertisement , 26 September 1896, p. 3

28 Advertisement , NZ Herald , 9 March 1897, p. 8



31 Wanted notice, Auckland Star , 21 June 1899, p. 1


33 Cyclopedia of New Zealand , Vol 2, 1902, p. 429

34 Death notice, Auckland Star , 23 August 1902, p. 8



35 Auckland Star 22 August 1902, p. 4

36 Auckland Star , 6 September 1902, p. 8

37 NZ Herald , 27 September 1902, p. 4

38 Notice, Auckland Star , 12 December 1902, p.8

39 Advertisement , Auckland Star , 21 May 1903, p. 8

40 Advertisement, Auckland Star 13 July 1903, p. 1

41 Charles Ferrall, Rebecca Ellis, The Trials of Eric Mareo , 2002, p. 153

42 Advertisement , Auckland Star , 26 April 1913, p.6

43 Ferrall & Ellis, p. 153

44 Advertisement, NZ Herald, 29 October 1921, p. 7


46 Advertisement, NZ Herald , 5 April 1915, p. 1

47 Advertisement, Auckland Star , 24 December 1880, p. 3

48 BDM database; death notice for Mrs McSkimming, Auckland Star , 9 October 1931, p. 1

49 NZ Herald , 15 February 1889, p. 5

50 Auckland Industrial & Mining Exhibition handbook, 1898, p. 129

51 Bethell family history, http://www.geocities.ws/robert_bethell/WC01/WC01_012.htm, sighted 11

November 2013

52 Birth notice, NZ Herald, 4 February 1922, p. 1

53 Advertisement , Auckland Star , 6 November 1930, p. 1854 GIS photos, Auckland Council website

55 Death notice, Auckland Star , 2 April 1940, p.1

56 Obit, Auckland Star , 3 April 1940, p. 3

57 NA 732/126, LINZ records

58 Wises Directory 1946, p. 177a

59 Online family history websites, sighted 13 November 2013

60 NA 732/126 to 1976/35 and 1976/36, LINZ records

61 NA 1976/36, LINZ records62 Sunday News 20 September 1964

63 NA 1976/36



Auckland Star 9 August 1907

Auckland Star 4 August 1900

Auckland Star 11 December 1925

Historical summary: 650A Mount Albert Road/ 8A Rewi Road, Mt Roskill

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Transcript of Historical summary: 650A Mount Albert Road/ 8A Rewi Road, Mt Roskill