Fort Lane History
This image was created by K Burcher and Charles Heaphy in 1853. Oil painting on canvas, the dimensions are 409 x 562 mm. This image now is in the Auckland Art Gallery. It shows the original shoreline with Fort Street being harbour side. (Fort lane not yet exisiting.)
By the 1850s horses had been integrated into Māori life in the northern part of New Zealand, as suggested in this 1852 painting by Charles Heaphy. This group is in front of St Paul’s church in Auckland.
Looking west along Fort Street showing Carr’s Boatyard, Grahame’s Bonded Store and jetty, boat anchored. This photograph was taken by Richardson, James D between 1850-1859. This photograph was taken during the Austrian Scientific Exploring Expedition, conducted by Dr. Ferdinand Hochstetter.’
Māori hostel
Pākehā prejudice meant Māori had difficulty finding accommodation while visiting towns and cities. Governments sought to overcome this problem by building ‘native hostelries’ in main centres where visiting Māori could stay for free, as long as they obeyed hostel rules. This photograph was taken by Richardson, James D between 1850-1859.
Fort Britomart
Situated on Point Britomart, and using the defences of an earlier pā, Fort Britomart was built as an army barracks. (The British flag was first unfurled on the headland on 16 September 1840.) The initial building was completed in 1841. Fort Britomart is where the name of ‘Fort Lane’ and ‘Fort street,’ would have been named after.
Removal of spoil from Point Britomart
Showing workmen removing spoil by horse and cart from the base of Point Britomart during reclamation work between 1870-1879
Looking south east from the reclamations between Customs Street East and Quay Street East, showing Point Britomart being demolished up to Emily Place, St Paul’s Church. Princes Street with the Northern Club (to the right) Shortland Street and Customs Street East with the premises of A Hines and Co kauri gum merchants and Reid and Gray, agricultural implement manufacturers. Photograph taken between 1880-1889
Original plan of Auckland
It was created by Winkelmann, Henry on or around the date 1840-1849.
Large cadastral map of Auckland City, created 1947-53. The map also has streets and public buildings such as schools, churches, hospitals, etc. This sheet shows part of the central city, the waterfront, Parnell, the Domain, Auckland wharves; Auckland Domain; Albert Park; Reclamation of land; Auckland Railway Station; Queen Street
Fort street was originally known as ‘Fore’ Street, and marks the original commercial bay shoreline. The maori name for the area is ‘Onepanea’ and is a place of cultural significance to Tangata Whenua. The Fort street shoreline was a key landing point during Auckland early settlement, and central Auckland’s role as a major trading centre. Surveyor General Felton Matthew provided for allotments of reclaimed land to be developed on tidal mudflats of Commerical bay in his first plan, creates to service warehousing at the rear of buildings fronting Queen st. The dip in Fort lane reflects settlement of the reclamation material.
Auckland City Heritage walks – Downtown, midtown and uptown. PDF document, exploring the history of Auckland city building by building: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/heritage-walks-places/Documents/auckland-city-heritage-walks.pdf
Before and after of the reclaimed land by Fort Street, Auckland City.
Fort Lane was reclaimed from the Waitemata (harbour) started in 1859 with 9 acres of the foreshore between Fore (fort) street snd Customhouse (Custom). Street being reclaimed in the 1860s. The first land parcel was leased in 1860. It crosses Te Roukai, a pipi (shellfish) bank that was a valued traditional food resource.
Roxy Theatre
Roxy Theatre at 50 Queen Street, Auckland Central. Opened 25 November 1911 as the Queen’s picture theatre. The Hippodrome by 1918, it was again renamed by 1933 as the Roxy, operated by Amalgamated Theatres Ltd. Fire swept through the Woolworths building next door on 15 January 1935, after which Woolworths purchased the block and the Roxy reopened on its second site on 26 June 1935. It finally closed on 30 June 1956
Phillimore Properties have begun a $10 million makeover of the Imperial and Everybody’s buildings at 44-56 Queen St, directly behind the Michael Hill, Louise Vuitton and Gucci retail outlets. Three cavernous spaces are revealed in the development – the two theatres and an unusual gable loft with clerestory windows called “the Boathouse”, which was probably a warehouse in its previous life. The theatre seated 500 people and ran screenings continuously in two sessions – 11am to 5pm and 6.30-11pm. The theatre had name change, becoming the Roxy in 1929 when it was converted for “talkies”. The first “talking session”
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/forgotten-gems-saved-from-wreckers-ball/3PVMSUXLXOMRXZTN2ENUFAL74A/
Looking north along Fort Lane from the rear of Coulls, Somerville Wilkie Limited, towards the John Bates Building in Customs Street East, Fort Lane, c1973.
Aerial photograph taken above Albert Park in Auckland
An aerial photograph taken in 1974 above central Auckland to show the motorway under construction. Streets visible Fort lane, Fort Street, Customs Street, Queen Street.
Eyelight Lane
Hidden down a city centre laneway.
Eyelight Lane has been described as a “meandering red neon line mounted on buildings on either side of Fort Lane that crosses the alley at three points”. Swedish artist David Svensson is the artist behind the work, and known for his work comprising of light installations and sculptural works.
Significant aspect of the development is a new pedestrian lane extending from Queen St through to Fort Lane, which is also getting a makeover under the Auckland City Council’s new shared space programme – an urban design concept that aims to combine rather than separate the functions of a street.The Fort Lane shared space design includes improved street lighting on building facades to create a safer environment, the removal of “street furniture”, neon art work running along the lane and new paving.
Comprising 120 metres of neon lights, the installation will crisscross the lane and building facades from Fort Street to Customs Street. “Fort Lane has come from being a tired and neglected street to the next cool new space to enjoy in our inner city. Eyelight Lane is the icing on the cake for this transformation and will literally make this night-time destination shine,” says Auckland councillor and chair of the Arts, Culture and Events committee, Alf Filipaina.
Svensson remarks, “My principle practice is light-based work. I have several public artworks featuring neon such as ‘Lighthouse’ in Obrero, Sweden and I’m very excited to be coming to New Zealand to install Eyelight Lane.” The inaugural ‘switching on’ of the work will be held on the evening of 27 February 2014.
Model Making of a Threshold moment
Three models playing with a proposed threshold in the space.
The ribbon raps around the geometries boundaries in a linear way, creating squares, triangles and diagonally wrapping across the form. Once it gets into the interiors ( enclosed paper sheets,) the linear ribbon becomes fluid and. creates soft forms, bending and twisting. The light reflects of the ribbing of the ribbon creating a soft highlight. Beautiful shadows mirror that of the ribbon, a gentle shadow.
A subtle geometry is formed by the light piercing through the triangular windows. Creating a change in light quality in different segments. The crisp bright openings reveal a glare over the slight markings in the material. Neighbouring the beaming whiteness was the lack of light appearing as a dark shadow, as a pairing, the simplicity of contrast appears.
The slits refract light into a soft fan form. The primary colour segments created a layered appearance, symbolising the refracted light as white light is made from all hues. Stepping further into the distance. The limited opening to the exterior reveal a fascinating lightness; fantasy like. Multiplicity, movement and lightness are inspired by this model. Spontaneous pattens are formed by the light. Simplicity of primary colours, easily consumed.
Zaraspaces 