OUR HISTORY

In September 1840 Captain Hobson arrived at Britomart point, heading off a rumoured landing by the French and establishing New Zealand colonialism.

The eponymous Brig sloop HMS Britomart was later employed on a detailed survey of Waitemata harbour. Britomart Point was a natural outcrop of land where a Maori pa had long been established. This vantage point was immediately exploited by the British who built a fort which would hold 10,000 troops during the New Zealand Wars.

In 1912, 10,000 Aucklanders gathered for the opening of the Central Post Office, soon after radio wireless was established, providing contact with ships at sea. The social, political & physical importance of the CPO lasted up until the 70’s.

In 1992 the Post Office closed, and along with the surrounding buildings languished and decayed over the next 30 years, becoming populated mostly by pigeons. A murder, rape and fire, all within the Britomart Precinct marked the lowest point in the area’s history.

Britomart is a place of history with unique heritage, culture and architectural elements.  Britomart's potential is to link the past with the present, for generations to come.