Then and Now

[Tronhard]

I came across a repository of photographs of Auckland from around the turn of the last century, housed in Auckland Library's Heritage Archive digital collection. I thought it would be interesting to see if I could replicate, as closely as possible, those same shots today. I was also curious to see how the city has changed over the ensuing 125 years. There were two challenges to this: finding the original location (if it still exists) for the old photograph and figuring out the equivalent settings to give, where possible, the same Field of View - especially considering most of these images were taken with plate cameras and no records indicate of the lenses and settings.

My first attempt was a panorama take by the photograph by H Winkleman in 1901.



I found the location pretty accurately but was then confronted by a new issue - the city is much, much taller than it was in 1901, so I had to allow extra space at the top and thus took a bit from the foreground


The difference is quite significant! Certain parts have been drastically terraformed - such as significant land in-fill along the waterfront and demolition of a couple of volcanoes for construction materials. The city is built on a live field of 50 volcanoes, the last of which erupted only about 700 years ago.

 

[Tronhard]

So then I turned my attention to one block in the central city area, which is part of a regeneration project connected with repurposing what was the old central post office and making it into a transport hub for trains, buses and close-by ferries.

Several surrounding blocks were classified as protected and take as part of a coordinate redevelopment project, including earthquake strengthening and internal modernization for offices, commercial premises and eateries. The first photograph I found was of the Excelsior building, again taken in 1901 by Winkleman.

​

What is interesting is that in developing the transit centre, an area of the building encompassing 5 rows of windows closest to the camera in the original image was demolished to make way for a wide road to allow passage for transit vehicles. Also the triangular structure at the top was taken down, as it obviously would not have worked, either structurally or aesthetically. Otherwise the original buildings in the block are in remarkably good preservation.

The modern rectangular structure soaring above the block is part of a hotel that has been inserted inside the shell of one of the buildings.

The location of the photographer in the first image is unfortunately take by structures, and this closer spot was the best I could achieve to get the whole block.

 

[Joeseph]

Amazing how well photographed a lot of early Auckland is, can't imagine the conditions the photogs of the day operated in!

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

A great idea for a series, Trevor. Interesting to see what time does to structures, buildings, a city. Quite fascinating.

I love the wall in the second set with all the vases.

 

[Tronhard]

A great idea for a series, Trevor. Interesting to see what time does to structures, buildings, a city. Quite fascinating.

I love the wall in the second set with all the vases.

Thank you Levina! The artwork is a series of renditions in the style of traditional Māori cultural decoration.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Thank you Levina! The artwork is a series of renditions in the style of traditional Māori cultural decoration.

It's beautiful. Makes that wall very special.

 

[Tronhard]

It's beautiful. Makes that wall very special.

Here it is in colour:

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Here it is in colour:
View attachment 112473

That’s really beautiful, Trevor. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Tronhard]

Thank YOU!

 

[Tronhard]

DEVONPORT:
To continue the same theme of images taken around 1901 vs today of the same locations and (close to) the same field of view. This time we are in Devonport, predictably the home of NZ's Navy and where I grew up when we came to NZ when I was 9. I have memories of climbing to the location of this image, the volcanic cone of Mt Victoria, and getting into trouble with my friends as we explored the ammunition stores in the underground hollow of the cone."
Today, it is a regional park, but with the same brilliant outlook across the navy base to Auckland City.

Devonport was one of Auckland's first suburbs to be developed, hence the style of Victorian bungalow architecture that is preserved. It is now one of Auckland's most sought-after and expensive suburbs, but being down a long peninsula that bears a striking resemblance to a map of Italy, with only one access road, the traffic is pretty daunting. Luckily, the ferry offers a short 15min ride to the city centre.

The 1901 image shows a squadron of Royal Navy ships giving a salute to the Royal Yacht: HMS Ophir (immediate left of tall smoke stack) conveying the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York on an extensive tour of the British Empire in 1901. Photo taken by Henry Winkelmann.



Today, the navy base, HMNZS Philomel, is still the home of the RNZN, and normally has a lot of ships tied up but they were away on other duties, leaving an off-shore patrol vessel (left), to its our right HMNZS Canterbury - a multi-role supply ship, with an ANZAC-class frigate (either Te Mana or Te Kaha) tied up behind.

5DIII, EF24-105L@50mm, f/11, 1/320sec, ISO-160​

 

[davidedric]

Thank you, Trev. Great idea and very interesting to see the results.

 

[Tronhard]

Thank you, Trev. Great idea and very interesting to see the results.

Thank you David. I found it particularly interesting to see that the older image captured a very specific event.