Wharf and Street Names in Wynyard Quarter Maritime History Sea+City Projects, Auckland, New Zealand

Wharf and street names in Wynyard Quarter are generally based on naval and harbour board associations, reflecting the area's strong maritime history.

Daldy Street
Captain William 'Crush' Daldy was the first chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, from 1871 to 1877. It is Daldy's foresight that is credited with the acquisition of 5000 acres of land including Freeman's Bay, enabling reclamation and development.

Beaumont Street
Named around 1900 after the City of Beaumont in Texas because of its proximity to the oil repository on the western reclamation.

Brigham Street
J McRae Brigham was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and served on the Auckland Harbour Board for 38 years.

Fanshawe Street
Named after Vice Admiral Arthur Dalrymple Fanshawe, who visited New Zealand in 1903 in command of a nine-ship squadron. The street was formerly known as Beach Rd and traced the coastal edge.

Gaunt Street
Admiral Sir E.F.A Gaunt served in the British forces in the battle of Jutland and was the aide-de-camp to King George V. He retired in 1925 and was knighted.

Halsey Street
Sir Lionel Halsey captained the HMS New Zealand during WWI. He was also in charge of the HMS New Zealand on her cruise of the world to show off the flag. He was regarded very highly by local Maori warriors who gave him a Maori costume to wear during his battles. Sir Halsey's ship was the only ship to emerge from battles without a scratch and with no fatalities.

Hamer Street
W. H. Hamer was the Auckland Harbour Board engineer from 1903 to 1925. It was his plan for the development, reclamation and restoration of the waterfront that was realised in the first half of the 20th century.

Jellicoe Street
The Right Honourable Jellicoe of Scapa was a British naval officer who fought in WWI. He was in command of HMS New Zealand when it visited in 1919. Jellicoe returned to New Zealand in 1920 to take up the post of Governor General and served a long term as a popular figure.

Madden Street
Sir Charles Edward Madden commanded cruiser squadrons before WW1 and was later Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet. From 1922 to 1927 he was the First Sea Lord to oversee the British Navy.

Pakenham Street
This street was named for Rear Admiral W A Pakenham who was an English officer in WWI. He commanded British Forces at the Battle of Jutland where HMS New Zealand was one of six battle ships engaged.

Westhaven Drive
Formerly Poore Street, which was named for Vice Admiral Richard Poore of the Australian fleet that visited during Fleet Week of 1908, who commanded the HMS Powerful.

Westhaven Marina
Westhaven Marina was formerly St Mary's Bay boat harbour and appears to have changed its name in the 1960s. Westhaven Marina is one of the largest marinas in the Southern Hemisphere.

Wynyard Wharf
Colonel Robert Wynyard arrived in New Zealand in 1854 in charge of the 58th Regiment. He served in Northland and then Devonport before being elected first Superintendent of Auckland Province. He was appointed Administrator upon Governor Grey's departure and served as Acting Governor General between 1853 and 1855.

Further significance to the naming of this site occurred with the first steamboat manufactured in New Zealand in 1854, which was launched from Freeman's Bay before the land reclamation. On December 24 that year it sailed to Wynyard Pier in Official Bay (now Beach Road) where it was named Governor Wynyard.

The construction of Wynyard Wharf (known at this time as Western Wharf) occurred in 1922. Mr Wynyard served as Deputy chairman and Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board during this period. While it is likely that Wynyard Wharf was named for the launch of the steamboat or to replace Wynyard pier (which was demolished when Official Bay was reclaimed), it may also have been named for Mr Wynyard. Adjoining streets Brigham and Hamer were also named for long serving Auckland Harbour Board members of this period.