Another view of the Foster’s Ship’s Chandlery on Customs Street, Auckland City, showing new construction to the left of the image.
Jan 172010
Stretching from the bottom of Parnell Rise at The Strand, continuing up the hill to Newmarket and hugging the coast to the Railway lines, Parnell is one of Auckland City’s oldest established suburbs. With a closer proximity to the inner city than Remuera, and a longer history as a gentrified suburb than Ponsonby or Grey Lynn, Parnell is home to classic architecture that covers everything from the 19th Century Villa, to English style brick and tile semi-detached, to Spanish bungalow – all at a premium price tag. This Spanish style villa sits on St. Stephens Avenue.
Jan 152010
Two friends walk past The Palace on Victoria Street, opposite Sky City Casino, during rush hour in the afternoon. An area of town once lined on both sides of the street with historic buildings like this one, this part of Victoria Street now houses the casino and the resolute presence of the architecture that preceded it.
Jan 082010
Two security guards at the front door of Hotel De Brett direct their gaze down High Street towards the busier Fort Street area just after midnight on New Year’s Eve.
The Upstair’s Bar at Hotel De Brett is rumoured to be one of the oldest Hotel Bars in Auckland, and during the 1990′s when High Street was “the place” for Friday and Saturday night partygoers, there were several bars packed at once on any weekend, with Cause Celebre, The Box, Papa Jack’s Voodoo Lounge with its Dragon Bar back room, Squid and Soul Bar only a few minute’s stagger away. High Street hasn’t been a nightlife destination for more than a decade, however, after the club scene moved to the fashionably seedier Karangahape Road.
These days, while High Street might still be a fashion mecca during daylight hours, Hotel De Brett appears very quiet just after midnight. Ironically, the hotel itself looks resplendent with its art deco inspired refurbishment.
Jan 012010
Party Seekers walk past Finance Plaza, illuminated just after midnight, on New Year’s Eve. Most of the New Year’s revellers were assembled on the corner of Queen Street and Victoria Street, with a few people heading Downtown. Called Chase Plaza during the mid 1980′s, the name was changed after the Stock Market Crash of 1987, and the events that followed for the Chase Corporation.