| Victoria Park Market | |
|---|---|
| Victoria Park Market Auckland.jpg | |
| Former names | Auckland Municipal Destructor and Depot |
| General information | |
| Type | Market and retail complex, former waste depot and incinerator |
| Location | 210 Victoria Street West, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Construction started | 1905 |
| Completed | 1918 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 38 metres (chimney) |
| Design and construction | |
| Landlord | Kitchener Group CEO David S Henderson |
| Architect | J. Barree Johnson & Co. |
| Civil engineer | Alfred Wrigg, W.G.T. Goodman, Turnbull & Jones Ltd., Walter E. Bush and Harry Wrigg |
| Other designers | Meldrum Bros. Ltd |
| Official name: Auckland Municipal Destructor and Depot (Former) | |
| Designated: | 30-Jun-2006 |
| Reference #: | 7664 |
Victoria Park Market is a craft, souvenir and clothing market and retail complex in Auckland, New Zealand. It is housed in a former waste depot and incinerator complex. The Market is located in Freemans Bay and takes its name from nearby Victoria Park. As well as a foodcourt and a wide range of shops, the Market houses a museum dedicated to the history of the site, and a Celebrity Walk of Fame, opened in 1984, which features the hand or footprints of famous New Zealanders including Sir Edmund Hillary, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Billy T James, John Walker and Rachel Hunter.
The site of the Victoria Park Market buildings was originally part headland and part foreshore of Freemans Bay. In the late 1870s the bay was reclaimed, and various commercial and residential buildings were erected. From 1905 to 1918 a series of brickwork buildings were constructed on the site, initially to deal with the disposal of rubbish from the city. These included a 38m tall chimney. In 1907 work began on a power generator building to use the heat produced by the "Destructor". Although this was finished in 1908, it was found to be inadequate for the city's power demands, and was shut down in 1913. Further additions were made from 1914 to 1918, including double storeyed stabling for the 94 horses used to pull the city's rubbish carts, and council administration offices.
From 1952 the stables were no longer used for their original purpose, and the 'Destructor' ceased operation in 1972, although the complex continued to act as a rubbish collection depot until 1981. The Auckland City Council originally planned to demolish the complex, but relented following a public campaign. It was converted into a market and retail complex, and alterations were made for this purpose in 1983 and 1990. The complex is a Category I Historic Places under the Historic Places Act 1993.[1]
A further redevelopment, which would also have seen a removal of the current car parking building at the western end of the market, was planned, but is currently dormant due to the financial crisis of 2008.[2]