Albert Park, Auckland

Albert Park
Flower beds and phoenix palms near the fountain.
Type	Urban park
Location	Auckland, New Zealand
Coordinates	36°51′03″S 174°46′03″E / 36.8507°S 174.7675°E / -36.8507; 174.7675
Created	1880s
Operated by	Auckland Council
Status	Open all year, 24 hours

Albert Park is a public park in central Auckland, bounded by Wellesley Street East, Princes Street, Bowen Avenue and Kitchener Street. From the entrance at the corner of Bowen Ave and Kitchener St, sealed footpaths climb steeply through native trees to the large flat area at the summit, where a formal layout of paths and flower gardens encircle a fountain.

Albert Park occupies much of the site of the Albert Barracks, one of Auckland's early European military fortifications, which in turn was built on the previous site of Te Horotiu pa. The barracks consisted of a number of wooden and masonry structures standing in an enclosed area surrounded by a rock fortification built of the local volcanic stone. A portion of this wall remains visible in the adjacent University of Auckland grounds, and the Albert Barracks Wall is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category I historic place.

The Park was laid out in the 1880s and originally had commanding views over the city and harbour. The view now is of modern office blocks, except where mature trees have hidden the buildings. The Park contains a number of interesting specimen trees dating from the 1880s to the first World War. A caretakers residence was provided which still stands on the eastern side of the part adjacent to Princes Street. After 1906 this Gothic styled cottage was occupied by the City Park Superintendent Thomas Pearson who died here in 1931. It is currently occupied by a Clock Museum.

The design of the park was the result of a public competition and follows a formal layout with a main north-south axis. To the north of the axis is the bronze statue of Queen Victoria (1897); to the south is a bandstand (James Slator 1901). Between them is a large cast iron fountain imported from Great Britain in 1881 which forms the centre piece of the park. The fountain is distinguished by statues of dolphins ridden by cherubs blowing horns which spout water. The fountain is surmounted by a generic female figure which also has a horn spouting water.