Heritage Highlight: 160 years ago in Manners Street
In the 1850s Te Aro was organised by 'town acres' that determined the layout of streets and the residents who occupied them. Acres 205 to 214 were primarily used commercially due to them facing Manners Street on one side and having direct access to the shoreline on the other. Acres 215 and beyond held Te Aro Pā and the wetlands that would later form part of Courtenay Place.
Businesses included marketplaces, hotels, and even a flour mill. Many acres had stables built on them for residents to keep their horses. The roads were unpaved and often muddy. Infrastructure as we know it was non-existent.
We've used an historic photograph from the library's collection to explore the inner city as it was over 160 years ago with wetlands, streams, and the original shoreline. The photograph dating back to 1858 also provides incredible detail of the pā site and the first businesses run in the 'commercial quarter' of the Manners Street area.
Use the below link to enter the story and visit the streets and sights of the 1850s.