I went to Cornwall Park/One Tree Hill a week or so ago with my kiwi friend Liz. It's a huge park just outside of downtown Auckland with sheep, cows, and a big obelisk on a hill. I think this picture sums it up best.
Cornwall Park is the legacy of Sir John Logan Campbell. Originally the land was a farm owned by him on the outskirts of Auckland. Upon his return from Italy in the 1880s he intended to build a great family residence on the slopes of the hill (where the current tearooms are) and planted many trees including olives on the slopes. Eventually he constructed a house closer to town (the land is now part of the Parnell Rose gardens). By about 1900 he realised that Auckland's suburbs were spreading at an alarming rate and he decided to leave the Greenlane property to the city as a park. Parts of the park, about 120 hectares (296.5 acres), are still run as a farm today, providing Aucklanders with access to an example of rural life in the heart of the city.[5] The park was designed by the landscape architect Austin Strong and is based on Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.[6][7]
The park lies on the slopes of One Tree Hill.
Campbell initially intended the name to be Corinth Park after the noted region in Greece. It received the name Cornwall Park because of the Royal visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1901 by the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall (later King George V & Queen Mary). John Logan Campbell was asked to be honorary Mayor of Auckland during the visits, and he took the opportunity to gift the park to the people of New Zealand and asked that it be called Cornwall Park. In return he was knighted.
- Acacia Cottage
Cornwall Park is home to Acacia Cottage, one of the earliest surviving timber buildings in New Zealand, and also the oldest extant in Auckland. Built in 1841, it was originally the home of William Brown and John Logan Campbell and located behind their store. It was relocated in 1920 from its original location off Shortland Street, in what is now the heart of the CBD of Auckland City. In 1956 moved again within the park to a more prominent location. It is listed as a 'Category I' site by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.[8]
I don't think that's Acacia Cottage.
- Stardome Observatory
The Stardome Observatory (previously known as Auckland Observatory), is also located within Cornwall Park, and contains two telescopes and a planetarium. The observatory has, amongst other research, discovered and named the asteroid 19620 Auckland. Its current functions combine entertainment and education (via the planetarium and via public access to the older telescope) as well as ongoing research with both telescopes. It is operated by a charitable trust.
-Wikipedia FTW (but the pictures are mine)
3 comments:
I thought the photos were from Wikipedia - they are that good!! ;o) Forget law and think about capturing a moment, a second in time, visual poetry with photography!! Knowing you, however, you could do both! Mom
Don't you love it how in photos you can cut out the ugly bits and pretend they never existed ;-)
Did you go disc golfing?
Great pics. Sounds like a great time. Sorry about the cottage, was
interested in seeing it. Log cabin right? Really enjoyed the history.
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