Mechanics Bay - Surrounding Area

Surrounding Area

At its eastern end where Beach Road turns into Parnell Rise is a major intersection, over which the railway is carried on a metal viaduct. The road to the north is The Strand which follows the shore line of the reclaimed St Georges Bay. The road to the south is Stanley Street, which turns into Grafton Road as it ascends the hill towards the hospital and Auckland Domain. Stanley Street is named for Mrs Stanley, who lived in the area during the 1850s and ran a well known and apparently well regarded girls school.

On the corner of Stanley Street and Parnell Rise is the "Strand Hotel". This building is almost overpowered by the busy intersection and by the railway viaduct passing close to it. When the "Strand Hotel" was built in the 1840s as the "Swan Hotel" it stood directly on the quayside as a waterfront pub. Just opposite it on the other corner of Stanley Street stood the Native Hostel.

Long before the Europeans arrived, Māori had beached their wakas on the broad flat beach just here and right from the founding of Auckland in 1840 into the late 20th century this portion of land was reserved for their use. The 19th century hostel buildings only disappeared in the 1970s, when they were replaced by a depot for the New Zealand Post Office.

Further up Stanley street and backing onto the Auckland Domain are two sports grounds; Carlaw Park, an important venue for Tennis in Auckland and the Auckland Bowling Club, founded in the 1861 and the oldest in the southern hemisphere.

Conveniently located State secondary schools are Auckland Grammar School, Epsom Girls Grammar School, Baradene College of the Sacred Heart and St Peter's College.