NOW AND THEN A LOOK AT THE

HISTORY OF BUCKLAND

Alfred Buckland

Buckland was settled about the mid 1800’s.The land was originally owned by Alfred Buckland which is why it is

called Buckland. He was a wealthy English businessman who came to NZ in 1850 and purchased land in South Auckland. He

owned most of the present village . About 1879 he started to sell his land.

Buckland church’s

Church services were at first held at the School. In 1900 the Anglican Church was completed.

The first bride to be married in the church was one of the first pupils and a teacher at the school Mrs N Jamison. Many weddings and baptism’s have been held since that first

wedding. Buckland School has also been involved with church services at St Paul’s Church over the years.

Wedding of Maude E Bluck and Norman Jamieson and the gathering at the opening of St Paul’s Church.

Photo’s showing:- the interior of St Paul’s Church

- - Buckland School pupils who participated in celebrating the St Paul’s Day service at the church

- - Buckland School pupils during a Christmas carol service

The Methodist Church was built in 1902. It is now a private residence.

Monument The war memorial monument stands beside the railway line. It was built after

World War I. There was a cannon set in concrete at each end but during World War II these were taken away to be melted down for more guns. An Anzac Day Service is held at the monument each Anzac Day. Buckland School participates in this service each year.

SportTennis was started in Buckland in about 1909. There were 3 tennis courts on

property behind the hall. The Bowling and Croquet Clubs were opened in 1922.

SHOP’SThe first store was established in Buckland by Mr Barker on the main road. It is still standing today but is no longer used as a shop having recently shut down. Also at Buckland during the early years was a seed store, two grocers shops, saddler, butcher blacksmith’s shop and Post

Office.

RailwayThe railway came through Buckland about 1880. In the 1920’s the railway

station had cattle yards, large goods sheds, waiting room, ticket office, station master and a row of houses for the linesmen.

Photo below shows train coming along the main trunk line looking towards where the station once stood.

The railway station below was manned 24 hours a day and had a permanent staff of at least 3 men. The station was

much larger and many trains stopped with a regular service to and from Auckland several times a day. There was also a huge goods shed and cattle yards at the station which itself

included a waiting room, toilets, station master’s office, goods room and ticket office with a long verandah to shelter

waiting passengers.

Buckland hall Buckland has had 4 halls. The first was reconstructed in 1922.The hall

was destroyed by fire in 1932 and a new hall was built.

The next new hall was built in 1955 and the supper room was added a few years later.

This is the hall we have today

CreameryA creamery was built across the creek below

the school for processing milk .Later this became a casein factory and a cheese factory. Around 1959 it was used as a dye works for the Irish

Tapestry Company.

HousesThe first houses were built from timber milled

on the properties . Today Buckland houses are a mixture of the old and the new. Some of the first houses built in

Buckland are still lived in now.

SchoolBuckland school was opened in 1893 after much argument

about where it was to be sited. In the early years it was used for all social functions and church services. The first school looked quite different than our school today, however the New Zealand flag flew outside then just as it does today.

Buckland during the early years was a community of people of mostly British descent. Today Buckland is a mixture of races, cultures and backgrounds.

Through the past, during the present and hopefully on into the future people have been able to say “Buckland is a good community”

The End By Emma Harvey