Saint Heliers, New Zealand

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Saint Heliers is an Auckland suburb.

This area was originally called Glen Orchard after Lieutenant-Colonel William Taylor's farm. Under later owners it was a stud farm managed by a Major Walmsley who apparently suggested the name Saint Heliers Bay because of its resemblance to the Bay of St Heliers, a fashionable holiday resort on the Channel Island of Jersey.

The "St Heliers and Northcote Land Company" was formed in 1882. The purpose of this company was not only to sell land but to provide a horse tram service for Auckland. Land sales were poor and the scheme eventually failed but the company did build a 1500 ft long pier at St Heliers before becoming insolvent.

St Heliers was usually reached by boat, the trip from Auckland taking only 30 minutes, whereas the eight mile land route via Newmarket, Remuera and Meadowbank was usually far too onerous. During this period St Heliers was a centre for local farmers and the location of the villas of a few rich business people. After Tamaki Drive was built in the late 1920s St Heliers became a commuter suburb and a destination for sunday drives, altering its genteel image.

Today it is still quieter than neighbouring Mission Bay or Kohimarama and arguably more refined. The wharf is long gone but there is periodically talk of rebuilding it, especially when Tamaki Drive is gridlocked with traffic. Some years a temporary wharf is put in place during the summer months.

From nearby Achilles Point is a grand view of Rangitoto and the Waitemata Harbour.

[edit] References

• The Heart of Colonial Auckland, 1865-1910. Terence Hodgson. Random Century NZ Ltd 1992.
• Delving Into The Past Of Auckland's Eastern Suburbs; section 6, St Heliers Bay. Elizabeth T. Jackson. Premier Print Services 1976.