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Located on the Symonds Street ridge, Albert Park in Auckland has been built out of an extinct volcano near the meeting point of Victoria Street East, Kitchener Street and Bowen Avenue. These volcanic soils generated much crop yield. The area became a military outpost when the Albert Barracks were constructed in 1845. By the 1880's most of the older barracks were removed and in its place were laid beautiful parks and gardens. The fountain and Albert park house were now added. Auckland art gallery Toi o T?maki was constructed in 1883 in the corner of the park. It was inaugurated in 1887 and the décor is a fine example of French renaissance style of architecture. The Second World War brought about monumental changes to the park. This was the time when the air raid shelters and tunnels replaced old ornamental guns following the bombing of the Pearl Harbor. Features of Albert Park in Auckland: - The park features several oak trees, Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla, typical of the Australian rainforests), tall Mexican washingtonia palms (Washingtonia robusta) also known as petticoat or California fan palms and ombu (Phytolacca dioica).
- The main highlight of the park since its early days is the magical Victorian fountain. Nearby is a statue of Queen Victoria, the first statue of the Queen in the country.
- The two-muzzle loading guns brought to New Zealand in 1879 to protect the harbor were buried in 1941 and unearthed in 1977.
- The Boyd Statue symbolizes the triumph of love over hate.
- The Reed statue, a statue in the memory of Sir George Grey, a marble statue of a soldier to commemorate the valiant acts of the troops of the Fifth New Zealand Contingent who died in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899.
- The major facilities at Albert Park in Auckland are Band rotunda, artworks, monuments, drinking fountains and toilets. How to Reach Albert Park in Auckland: The park can be accessed via the concrete pathways from Kitchener Street, Wellesley Street, Princes Street and Bowen Avenue.
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