Whitford, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section needs copy editing for proper spelling, grammar, usage, tone, style, and voice. You can help by editing it now. A guide is available, as is general editing help. |
Whitford is located 30 kilometres southeast of central Auckland, New Zealand. It was named after Richard Whitford who had a flax mill on the Waikopua near Housons Creek although some believe Whitford referred to the White-ford over the Turanga Creek at the end of Sandstone Road, where the salt dries when the tide is out.
[edit] ==History==
The first European settlers were George and William Trice who started farming “Poplar Farm” in Clifton Road in 1843. Most settlers (such as the Emblings, Doidges, Broomfields, Wades and Kellys) arrived after the mid 1850s. Their descendants still live in the area today.
Ostriches on Nathans “Whitford Park” estate provided feathers for the fashion trade from 1869 until the 1920s. They also trained racehorses, which is still an important activity today.
Trices goldmine later became the Whitford landfill and metal is still quarried from this early, rather unproductive venture.
Whitford provides firewood, post and rail timber, as well as butter, eggs and cheese to the village shopkeepers in Howick. Granger’s brickworks operated from the 1870s until 1920.
Water transport was the preferred method until the 1920s when roads and motor transport became more reliable.
Today, Whitford has its own shops and industries in a bustling centre including a real estate agent, accountant, dentist, service station, restaurant, gift shop and furniture restoration.
Lifestyle blocks for city workers have taken over some farms, although beef, sheep, dairy and timber are the main activities.
 |
This Auckland Region-related geography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
