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The old Grafton Bridge Flats


See that building on the corner? It's known as the old Grafton Bridge Flats - 5 years ago they were up for sale and despite looking it's age some of the flats are still being lived in by tenants, probably university students or nurses who work across the road at the Auckland Hospital.

According to the Timespanner blog, the land that it sits on use to belong to the Wesleyan School that shifted to Three Kings but kept the land as an endowment asset. This makes sense as my dad's great grandparents were of the same religion and they lived in the city as well in the late 1800s.

I haven't been able to find the exact age of the buildings but from my research I've established that there have always been shops below the flats from this advertisement in the NZ Herald 1927:


And this advertisement from the Auckland Star 1927 wanting a tenant for one of the balcony flats which would've overlooked the entire city:



The only other photo I've managed to find of it is this one from when it was for sale through Bayleys Real Estate but you can see parts of Parnell, Ponsonby, Sandringham etc behind it.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My Corner of the World.
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Comments

Rhonda Albom said…
An interesting building and history. Thanks.
31 March 2020 at 12:16
Susan Heather said…
Interesting to see what look like verandahs in the top photo that were enclosed in the bottom one. Brings back lots of memories of Auckland.
31 March 2020 at 16:01
local alien said…
More interesting history. Brings back memories for me too
31 March 2020 at 18:56
Billy Blue Eyes said…
Nice old building that looks like it is worth preserving
31 March 2020 at 22:06
eileeninmd said…
Hello, it looks like a nice building and neighborhood. Take care, enjoy your new week ahead.
31 March 2020 at 23:22
Sharon said…
There is a lot of history in this building.
1 April 2020 at 04:00
Bill said…
A lovely building with an interesting history.
1 April 2020 at 08:20
RobertN said…
Beautiful post.
1 April 2020 at 18:41
Veronica Lee said…
Lovely photos. I enjoyed the history.
2 April 2020 at 02:55
PerthDailyPhoto said…
It's a really nice looking building Amy, I hope they restore it instead of knocking it down.. I can see it is a prime piece of real estate though.
2 April 2020 at 16:29
betty-NZ said…
I do enjoy a place with a bit of history! It's a grand place for sure.

Your link is a great addition to 'My Corner of the World' this week! Thanks for linking up!
3 April 2020 at 11:51
Unknown said…
This is indeed a lovely building and thanks for your post. I moved into a one bedroom flat either on the 1st or 2nd floor (can't remember anymore) back in late 88, early 89 that faced the rear carpark. Lots of character in the flat with strange shape from memory and loads of cupboards in the kitchen. I remember this part as some were really high and unaccessible, and after moving in, I grabbed a chair to explore the hardest to reach ones and to my surprise, hiding in the back were a pile of 1950s womans magazines. Normally I wouldn't be interested, but these were so fascinating because of their age. The fashions, tone of voice, advertisements were all so far from 1989. I imagine they would be almost alien-like today. Thanks for posting this and I hope that this building survives as Auckland has so few apartments from that period left
26 May 2020 at 22:17
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