Auckland City Council archives
Introduction
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| 1908 City of Auckland map |
War-related material | Visit our research room
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Search the archives
The archives database contains descriptions of over 170,000
records that have been transferred from groups within council and former local
authorities within the Auckland isthmus. The earliest records date from 1852.
You are able to search the archives database and have the option to view the
records by visiting the research room.
Search the archives database
Search help
Search the 1908 City of Auckland map
The 1908 map is a significant and unique record of Auckland City's history and early infrastructure.
The map portrays an exciting period in the city's development and documents the progress of a growing city.
Images of the map can be accessed using the options below.
Search the map by street, building or place
Browse the map
Search the indexes
Search a selection of the archives with relevance to
genealogical, social and local history researchers.
Search all index databases
Search all World War I related index databases
Bicycle & Bootblack Register 1910-1918
Search the Bicycle & Bootblack Register
Council appointed its first traffic inspector in 1894, in an attempt to bring order to the increasing level of vehicular traffic in the central city area. From 1896, a licensing programme, initiated under the inspector, required bicycles to be registered with the Town Clerk and the registration number displayed on the bicycle.1
This register includes details of bicycle registrations under the following headings:
- date
- number
- name
- description.
Entries are alphabetical by surname and by date or licence number within each letter.
The register also includes bootblack licence registrations. Bootblacks were people who made a living by polishing shoes on the street and they required a licence from the Town Clerk before taking up the occupation in any of the city's streets. The licence specified the location and hours that the bootblack could conduct business, and was to be carried at all times whilst trading. A badge with the words 'Licensed Bootblack' was to be displayed on either the hat, left arm or chest of the bootblack.2
The database is a full transcript of entries in the register and is searchable by name, address and date. It includes entries for 1910-1918. For more information, please
contact us.
1 Bush, G.W. Decently and in Order, p.159.
2 ACC 426/10 Auckland City Council Bylaws 1-25 and Standing Orders.
Burgess Rolls for the City of Auckland
Search the Burgess Rolls
Burgess rolls were compiled and printed according to directions included in the Municipal Corporations Act 1867.
The burgess rolls for the City of Auckland record the names of all adults who owned or occupied rateable property there. Each person on the burgess roll was automatically entitled to cast between one and five votes, depending on the annual rateable value of his or her property.
The owner or occupier of a property rateable at less than £50 had one vote, while an owner or occupier with rateable property valued at £350 or more had five votes. The Municipal Franchise Reform Act 1898 abolished plural voting.
The division of Auckland into wards as in earlier years resumed in 1879, the city being divided into three wards, designated North, South, and East.
In 1882, the amalgamation of three highway boards with the City of Auckland increased the number of wards to six: North, South, East, Ponsonby, Karangahape, and Grafton, each ward electing three councillors. The City of Auckland abolished its ward system in 1903.
The burgess rolls are in alphabetical order by surname. The rolls list number on the roll, name of burgess, occupation, description and situation of rateable property, and number of votes to which the burgess was entitled. There are no street numbers. Later rolls are divided into the separate wards and include the number of each property on the council valuation roll and its rateable value. The burgess rolls include a number of married, widowed, and single women and some organisations are listed as burgesses, for example the Auckland Rowing Club and the Bank of New Zealand.
The database is searchable by name, occupation and/or location (of property), i.e. street, and includes rolls for 1872/73, 1882-84 and 1890/91.
This database is a transcript of most of the information recorded in the burgess rolls. For more
information, please contact us.
Auckland City Council Engineers Department Register of Employees
Search the Register of Employees for the City Engineers Dept
This register records details of employees of the Auckland
City Council City Engineers Department for the years 1901-1930. It includes:
- staff who worked in quarries
- council workshops and depots
- domains
- parks
- stables
- baths
- attendants at public conveniences
- administrative and technical
staff of the department working in the Town Hall
- road staff
- and those involved
in relief and improvement works and in water supply works in Huia and Titirangi.
This database is only a partial transcript of details, for
full details of any particular entry you may
visit us to view the register.
City of Auckland Licensing District Register of Applications 1900-1920
Search Register of Applications
This register contains information on applications for the
issue, renewal, transfer and withdrawal of publicans', wholesale, packet (on
board ships) and wine licences. The following details are recorded:
- number of
application
- date application received
- name of applicant
- premises
- situation
(street address)
- nature of application
- date of hearing
- how application
disposed of.
This database is only a partial transcript of details, for
full details of any particular entry you may visit
us to
view the register.
Auckland City Council Property Book c1880
Search the Property Book
This property book includes details of the leasing of council endowment
properties located within the central city area. The details noted are:
- the lot or section number
- the property's situation (street name)
- the name of the previous lessee, the name of the present lessee
- the rental amount
- the date the lease expires
- a description of the property
- and, in some instances, notes regarding conditions and transfers.
The database is a partial transcript and is searchable by name (of present
and previous lessees) and/or location of property, i.e. street or section. To view full details of entries in the book, you may visit
us.
Plans showing the location of the properties are also part of the property
book and these appear within the database alongside the entries to which they
relate. Alternatively, there is a separate search that you can use to search
these plans by title.
Eden Terrace Valuation Rolls 1883-1903
Search the Eden Terrace Valuation Rolls
This database provides details of each separate property in
the Eden Terrace Road District area for 1883-1903. Details include:
- the name of
the owner/occupier
- their trade or occupation
- a description of the property and
its rateable value.
This database is a full transcript of the record. For more
information, please contact us.
Karangahape Highway Board Valuation Book
Search the Karangahape Highway Board Valuation Book
This database provides details of each separate property in
the Karangahape Highway Board area for 1882/83. Details include:
- the name of the
owner/occupier
- their trade or occupation
- a description of the property and its
rateable value.
This database is a full transcript of the record. For more information,
please contact us.
Lock Hospital Register Book
Search the Lock Hospital Register Book
This is a database of admission details from 1883-1886 to the Lock Hospital,
established under terms of the Contagious Disease Act, 1869.
This database is only a partial transcript of details, for
full details of any particular entry you may visit
us to
view the register.
Mount Albert Highway District Rate Books 1867-1872
Search the Mount Albert Highway District Rate Book
In 1862, central government passed the Highways Act and the Auckland
Provincial Council passed legislation to provide for the institution of Highway
Boards. The purpose of the Act was to facilitate the making and repairing of
highways within the Province of Auckland.
Details include:
- the names of occupiers and owners
- a description and situation of property
- the rateable value
- date of payment.
The database is searchable by name (occupier and owner), property description
and/or the year.
This database is a partial transcript of entries. For full details of any
particular entry, you may visit
us to view the rate books.
Orakei Road Board Valuation Rolls 1912 and 1920
Search the Orakei Road Board Valuation Rolls
The Orakei Road Board formed in 1900 part of the Remuera Road Board area
and existed until 1928 when it amalgamated with Auckland City Council. These
rolls include:
- name
- occupation
- address
- capital value
- unimproved value
- value of improvements
The database is searchable by name (occupier and owner), occupation (occupier
and owner), street (occupier's address, owner's address and property
description) and year.
This database is a full transcript of the valuation rolls. For more
information, please contact us.
Otahuhu Cemetery Applications for Burial
Warrants 1921-1925
Search the Otahuhu
Cemetery Applications for Burial Warrants
Otahuhu Cemetery is located at Atkinson Avenue, Otahuhu. The first burial was recorded in 1894 and the cemetery is still operational.
These applications for burial warrant forms are for persons buried from 1921 to 1925 and had to be completed before an interment warrant could be issued. They contain similar information as is found in a burial register. Details recorded in the applications are as follows:
- name and signature of the applicant
- name and age of the deceased
- number of years they have resided in the province
- address of their last residence
- the country in which they were born
- deceased's last occupation
- date and cause of death
- number of allotment or grave and its size
- name of the officiating minister
- religion of the deceased
- name of the undertaker
- time set for the burial
- fees paid.
The database is a partial transcript. For full details of entries in the record book, you may visit
us. These details include cause of death, religion, fees and name of applicant.
View a Plan of the Otahuhu Cemetery.
See also Register of Burials Otahuhu Cemetery 1894-1922.
Otahuhu Borough Council Valuation Rolls 1886-1908
Search the Otahuhu Borough Council Valuation Rolls
This database provides details of each separate property in
the Otahuhu Road District area for 1886 and 1908. Details include:
- the name of
the owner/occupier
- their trade or occupation
- a description of the property
This database is a full transcript of the record. For more information,
please contact us.
Ponsonby Highway District Board Valuation List 1882-1883
Search the Ponsonby Highway District Board Valuation List
This database provides details of each separate property in
the Ponsonby Highway District Board area for 1882/83. Details include:
- the name of the
owner/occupier
- their trade or occupation
- a description of the property and its
rateable value.
This database is a full transcript of the record. For more information,
please contact us.
Publicans' Licences 1900-1962
Search the Publicans' Licences
This database contains details of publicans' licences for
the Ellerslie Hotel for 1900-1960, and the Panmure and Star & Garter Hotels
1902-1938.
This database is a full transcript of the record. For more information,
please contact us.
Register of Burials Otahuhu Cemetery 1894-1922
Search the Register of Burials Otahuhu Cemetery
Otahuhu Cemetery is located at Atkinson Avenue, Otahuhu. The first burial was recorded in 1894 and the cemetery is still operational.
This burial register records burials from 1894 to 1922 and contains the following information:
- number and date of interment
- name of the person interred
- interred person's religion, occupation, last residence, where they were born and where they died
- interred person's date of death, age and number of their grave
- to whom the grave was originally sold and their address along with the price of the grave and the cemetery fees.
This database is a full transcript of the record. For more information, please contact us.
View a Plan of the Otahuhu Cemetery.
See also Otahuhu Borough Council Applications for Burial Warrants 1921-1925.
Register of Licences: Drivers, Porters, Carriages,
Carters 1895-1899
Search the Register of Licences Drivers Carriages Carters
This register contains details of Drivers, Porters,
Carters, Private Carts, Carriages, Tram conductors and Tram drivers. Details in
the database include:
- date
- name
- address
- type of licence
- descriptions of
carriages (bus, brake, hackney, hansom, bow stage, van, and road cars)
- carriage owners.
The original register also contains details regarding drivers'
fines, convictions and sentences, licence cancellations and renewals.
This database is only a partial transcript of details. For full details of
any particular entry, you may visit
us to
view the register.
Tamaki West Road Board Valuation Roll
Search the Tamaki West Road Board Valuation Roll
This roll for the Tamaki West Road Board (renamed Tamaki Road Board in 1924) provides details regarding occupiers, their name and occupation, the street name and legal description of their property, and details regarding rateable and capital values.
The database is searchable by name (occupier and owner), occupation (occupier), and street (occupier's address and property address) and includes the roll for 1920.
This database is a full transcript of the valuation roll. For more information, please
contact us.
Valuation lists for Newton Borough
Search the Valuation Lists for Newton Borough
Newton Borough Council was established in 1885 and existed until 1901, when it became part of Grey Lynn Borough Council.
These valuation lists are for the years 1887 and 1888 and provide details regarding:
- occupiers - their name and occupation
- a description of the property
- the street name
- legal description
- the type of building.
For some properties, it is noted if they are leased or the term of the rent, i.e. weekly. Owners names are also indicated for some properties.
The database is searchable by name (occupier and owner), occupation (occupier and owner) and street.
This database is a full transcript of the valuation books. For more information, please
contact us.
Auckland City Council Wage Book for Men in Service in World War I
Search the Wage Book
This wage book records the wages paid to some Auckland City
Council employees serving in World War I and covers the period from 1916 to
1919. It contains the following pieces of information:
-
name of employee
-
their designation
-
their address
-
departure date
-
length of service
-
weekly wages
-
who the order was payable to and their address
-
plus any remarks that were recorded.
This database is a partial transcript of
the record. For full details of entries in the wage book, you must
visit
the Auckland City Council archives research room.
Where possible, images of the listed
employees have been obtained and included in the database.
Waikaraka Cemetery Record Book
Search the Waikaraka Cemetery Record Book
Waikaraka Cemetery is located at 1 Alfred Street in Onehunga. The first
burial took place in 1890 and the cemetery continues to operate. This burial
register for Waikaraka Cemetery contains information about people buried in the
cemetery from 1890-1906. The database includes the following details:
- date of warrant and warrant number
- the name of deceased
- occupation
- residence
- date of death
- where the deceased last came from
- age
- native place
- date of burial
The database is searchable by name, occupation and residence.
The database is a partial transcript. For full details of entries in the
record book, you may visit
us. These details include cause of death, denomination, years in province,
where buried (class, block, section, lot), fees, name of informant, and remarks.
View a Plan of the
Waikaraka Cemetery.
War Memorials and Honour Boards
Search the War Memorials and
Honour Boards online index
This database contains information from a number of sources and will be added to
over time.
Auckland City Council archives currently houses two
WWI-related honour boards in its research room. One lists those members of the
Auckland Mounted Rifles Club who served in WWI; the other is the Borough of
Newmarket WWI Roll of Honour Board.
In addition, we also hold records regarding war memorials that were erected
with some involvement by councils, for example, the donation of
land for a memorial to fallen soldiers in Epsom - The Marivare Reserve and
memorial arch. We are also indexing names from memorials erected by other
organisations within the Auckland city area, for example, the memorial obelisk
at Viaduct Harbour commemorating the services of the staff of the Auckland Harbour Board in World War I.
The database contains the following pieces of information transcribed from
the memorials:
- Name of soldier
- Indication if the soldier was killed whilst in service.
Additional research into those listed has also been conducted and this
information is displayed where available. For more information,
please
contact us.
Updated March 2009
