Albert Barracks Wall
| Albert Barracks | |
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The Albert Barracks wall in 2016
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| General information | |
| Address |
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| Coordinates | 36°51′4.21″S 174°46′11.24″E / 36.8511694°S 174.7697889°ECoordinates: 36°51′4.21″S 174°46′11.24″E / 36.8511694°S 174.7697889°E |
| Completed | 1850 |
| Designated | 23 June 1983 |
| Reference no. | 12 |
The Albert Barracks were built between 1846 and the early 1850s. The barracks wall was built under the supervision of George Graham and enclosed the 22 acres (8.9 ha) site. It was a major British military installation that overlooked Auckland, New Zealand, during its early colonial history.
The fortification was built as a direct result of the Flagstaff War to reassure the Auckland population; at the time, the city was the capital of New Zealand. All that remains is the Albert Barracks Wall on the University of Auckland's City Campus.
Tenders were called for construction of the barracks wall on 18 December 1846. Construction of the scoria wall with stone quarried from Engineer Quarry in Mount Eden was undertaken by both Europeans and local Maori under Graham's supervision. As this type of construction was new to Maori, training was given to them which resulted in the comment that it was difficult to point out any marked difference between them and the work performed by the Europeans. The speed and quality of the work encouraged the European's employing Maori to set up a night school to provide them with additional training. In addition, a skills based pay structure was introduced for them with three steps from entrance class at two shillings per day, 2nd class at two shillings and six pence, and those who were proficient three shillings and six pence per day. European stone masons earned between six and eight shillings per day.
During the same period, a number of buildings were constructed inside the wall including ordinance halls, hospital, theatre, a magazine for storing powder and a military reading room. There was also a large parade ground. The original hospital was a single story building constructed from stone blocks, similar to those used for the barracks wall. It enough room for patients divided among six wards. With the Invasion of the Waikato in 1863 the hospital was expended to include a number of wooden houses. The hospital buildings included a medical store and a kitchen block.
In 1866 the magazine was moved to Mount Eden stockade, which was located alongside Mount Eden Prison.
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Wikipedia