Devonport has a long reputation for having vocal and motivated residents with a strong commitment to the area and to preserving Devonport’s identity. 

Devonport was the first place in the world to declare itself a nuclear free zone and the first area to pioneer a recycling programme in the 1970’s. 

Local people fought to prevent the reclamation of Ngataringa Bay and to save Stanley Bay and the waterfront from high-rise development.  It was this same fighting spirit that saw the birth of Devonport Heritage in 1994. 

Many locals were concerned about the number of old villas being demolished to make way for new developments and realized there was no protection for the vast bulk of villas, cottages and bungalows that gave Devonport its character. 

They formed Devonport Heritage to act as champion, lobby group and guardian of the area’s historic identity and buildings. The society pushed for the introduction of heritage protections rules into the council district plan and these ensured pre-1940 buildings could not be demolished without a resource consent. 

Over the years Devonport Heritage continued to lead the fight to preserve and enhance the area’s heritage buildings but it was one of these battles that led to its demise.  

The society’s unsuccessful battle to save the historic Masonic Hotel led to the group being dissolved in 2016 over Environment Court costs.  However within a year a new protection society was launched. 

Devonport Heritage (2017) Inc continues to be a guardian for the protection of Devonport’s unique heritage together with a renewed focus to raise awareness and understanding of the area’s historic value. 

Margot Mcrae
Chairperson, Devonport Heritage (2017) Inc

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of Devonport Heritage 2017 are:

a) To acknowledge and affirm that Devonport’s character is recognised and valued by its residents and others.

b) To ensure that future developments enhance the existing heritage rather than destroying and replacing it

c) To identify, recognise and seek to save features of Devonport which give it heritage character such as buildings, parks, beaches, streetscapes, significant groups of buildings and other items including those which pre-date European settlement

d) Educate the community by fostering awareness and promote appreciation amongst the public about the history and heritage of Devonport.

e) To actively encourage the business community to enhance and protect the heritage nature of the Devonport area.

f) Promote the identification, protection, preservation and conservation of the history and heritage of Devonport

g) To take appropriate steps to see that Devonport’s heritage is maintained and enhanced in a way that allows harmonious development and adds to the social, cultural and recreational enjoyment of Devonport by its residents and visitors

h) Collect and preserve archival material concerning the history and heritage of Devonport

i) Promote an interest in the history and heritage of Devonport

j) To work with Auckland Council and the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board in matters concerning heritage, particularly in meeting the requirements of the Resource Management Act and the Unitary Plan, and to encourage these local and also national Government bodies to provide incentives and assistance to property owners, business proprietors and others to retain, maintain and enhance their properties in a way that contributes to the heritage environment

k) Publish and disseminate information about the history and heritage of Devonport, inclusive of lectures, discussion meetings, written material, historical studies, documentaries, plays and other suitable means

l) To associate with other groups with similar or complementary objectives

m) To raise sufficient funds to enable the stated objectives to be carried out

n) Do anything necessary or helpful for the above purposes

•  Banner image on this page - thanks to Mark Bishop and Auckland Libraries Sir George Grey Special Collections 35-R220, looking in a northerly direction up Victoria Road c.  1925 . The image has been merged by Mark with an image taken in 2015.