Volume 2 Issue 10

March – April 2003

The Avondale
Historical Journal
Official Publication of the Avondale-Waterview
Historical Society Incorporated

Charlie Pooley and the Avondale Stables

Inside this issue:
The Avondale Stables (2059 Great North Road) had been an established
Charlie Pooley 1–2
part of the landscape of the township long before Charles "Charlie" T. Pooley
and the came to the district by the late 1890s. In the 1880s, Pattersons ran a popu-
Avondale lar horse-bus service and hired "brakes" to the Roads Board (a large wagonette,
Stables carrying 6 to 8 people facing each other -- probably for the Board's regular road
inspections around the district) from the
same Great North Road site, until the original stables burned down in 1897.
A Stabbing on 2–3
Pooley is recorded working as an occasional contractor for the Board by 1898.
the Road On 1 June that year he won a tender to provide “1- horse team @ 8/6 per
day or 4/6 for half day, and a2-horse team at 12/- per day (6/- per half
The Past 3 day)". By now, he owned the Stables, and the land around it, (up to and includ-
ing the site of the present-day “Spotted Frog Café“.)
Recalled
According to Mr Ernie Croft, whose father (Ernest Croft) was a close
Avondale 4 friend of Pooley's, Charlie Pooley used to cart logs from up the Waitakeres, and
Central, 1916 did roading work on Bollard Avenue in Avondale.
Locals found entertainment each week in the lofts of Pooley’s stables on Great
North Road. “There were dances in Mr Pooley’s loft on Wednesday nights. We
drove there by horse and cart and what great dances they were! The
girls took a basket and the Pooleys supplied tea. We danced the Scottische and
Polka and Barn
Dance to the
accordion and
mouth or-
gan.” [From
Memories of Early
Avondale, by Tom
Myers, Avondale
A d v a n c e ,
21/11/1960]

continued next
page

from first page

One of Pooley’s
daughters had in-
fantile paralysis, The Avondale Stables, c.1922, when it was Percy Keen's service
Advertisement from the but would still get garage (Keen was Pooley's grandson). Photo courtesy of Mr L
News, 27 March 1915. around the district Keen.
The Avondale Historical Journal
Official Publication of the
Charlie Pooley and the Avondale Stables
in a little cart pulled by two large dogs. According some I
have interviewed, the speed of her cart meant pedestrians
had to step out of the way smartly — yet in no way was
she a risk to pedestrians, according to family members to-
day. Miss Pooley apparently was quite able to ride a horse
as well, mounting by way of a special platform, possibly
at her father’s stables on Great North Road. At times, Mr
Croft said, she would go droving.
From around 1919, the Stables became a service garage
for Pooley's grandson Percy Keen (above). By 1924, the
General Omnibus Company ran a bus service from out of
the front of the Stables. On 14 November 1924, the Sta-
bles burned down . Destroyed totally was a large motor-
bus garage, 2 passenger buses, 2 heavy motor lorries (one
a Republic lorry owned by CT Pooley himself), 2 motor
cars (one, a 6-cylinder Cleveland, valued at £550 but only
insured for £200, owned by Constable Douglas) , 2 motor-
bus tops (1 owned by Mr M
McCarthy, listed in the NZ
Herald as “taxi proprietor of
Avondale”, who was also the
first funeral director) and the
neigh-bouring house in which
lived Lawrence Tierney and
his family (who owned the
local barber shop and billiard
saloon). He, his wife and 10
children were able to escape
unharmed, but weren’t able to
save any possessions.
The front of the garage was occupied by the General Om-
nibus Company a firm only in existence 3 months, owned
by Messrs E R Alexander and G R Horrocks.
The main telephone and telegraph wires north of Avon-
dale to Helensville ran in front of the garage, and these
were seriously affected by the flames. The services north-
ward from Avondale were thus temporarily cut off. [NZ
Herald, from M Butler report, Heritage planning, Auckland
City, 2001]
C T Pooley also apparently owned land behind the Avon-
dale Hotel/Post Office in Wingate St. In February 1925 he
offered “66ft frontage to Great North Road free for im-
provements on condition that any further land be pur-
chased for £5 per foot.” It was resolved “that the offer be
accepted and that a further 30 ft be purchased with a view
to making a civic square.” [minutes, 18/2/25]
The “civic square” idea didn’t happen exactly as hoped. In
1957, part of the land was cut into by Auckland City to
make a parking bay, and by the late 1960s shops had been
built on the site. Part of this land seems to be the present-
day Avondale Town Centre, opened by the Avondale
Business Association on 20 July 2002.
Volume 2 Issue 10
Page 2
The disastrous fire of 1924 did not deter Charlie Pooley
from rebuilding on the Great North Road Stables site. By
the 1930s new brick and corrugated iron buildings were
up, and served as the base for Transport Bus Company
A Stabbing on the Road
(12 October 1863)
First published in “Spider’s Web”, Avondale,
December 2002
The New Zealand Herald of 3 December 1863 published a
court report of possibly the first crime reported in Avon-
dale -- a minor brawl and bayonet stabbing in what is now
Avondale's Mainstreet, close to the site of what is now
Ray White Real Estate.
John Hayes and Sergeant Nathaniel Sadlier were both sol-
diers with the Waikato Regiment, based at the Whau
Blockhouse in what is now Blockhouse Bay. The 12th of
October 1863 was appar-
ently Sgt. Sadlier’s time for
leave, while Hayes seemed to
be tasked to pick up provi-
sions for the blockhouse that
day. Leaving the bay for the
Whau Township at noon,
they headed for the Whau
Hotel. At about 5.45 pm, ac-
cording to Sadlier’s testi-
mony, he and Hayes left the
hotel and went to the general
store “on the town side of the
public house”, bought 15s 6d
worth of goods, then went back to the pub another two
and a half hours.
At 8 o’clock, Hayes apparently asked Sgt. Sadlier to ac-
company him back to the blockhouse. The sergeant de-
clined, saying he was on leave, and that Hayes should go
without him. Taking the goods in a bag on his shoulder,
Hayes started out (oddly, Sadlier accompanied him for the
first 30 or 40 yards down the road, most likely along Great
North Road). Hayes stopped, flung the bag down, and said
he wanted to go back to the pub. Sadlier gave him an or-
der to pick the bag, Hayes refused, then the two soldiers
tussled. Hayes drew his bayonet and stabbed Sgt. Sadlier
in the hip, causing a wound two inches deep. Even though
wounded, Sadlier lashed out at Hayes and gave him a
kick. Henry Denyer, the publican of the Whau Hotel,
helped Sadlier back to the hotel, where he was laid out
along the counter and examined by Dr. Thomas Aitkin, a
well-known resident of the Rosebank Peninsula in those
days.
Sadlier would testify that he was sober, “I had four or five
half glasses and one whole glass in four hours; it was ar-
 The Avondale Historical Journal Volume 2 Issue 10
Official Publication of the Page 3

The Past Recalled

by Mr. Rich Afford
(member, Avondale-Waterview Historical Society)

Born in the early twenties I was brought up in an area of remain.

Avondale now euphemistically called by land agents as
“Avondale Heights”, clearly with the intention of attract- The little valley with its streams started as a wilder-
ing a few more dollars than those properties situated on ness of blackberry and because we were a family of
the flats. It was an area basically of small holdings which conservationists before the term itself came into com-
in today’s parlance would be labelled, again euphemisti- mon usage we all got stuck in, cleared the weeds and
cally as “Lifestyle Blocks”. In those days one often heard planted native trees. Happily these trees are there to-
that an Englishman’s ideal castle consisted of two acres day comprising a little patch of bush, a gem in the
and a cow, and that is exactly the sort of property our midst of a housing estate and can be viewed from
family owned. Pinewood Street. Indeed there are two Kauri trees
which I planted personally in my early teens so are
But in addition to our lovely doe-eyed jersey Topsy we now venerably in their sixties and long ,may this small
had at times turkeys, chooks, a large vegetable garden asset survive to be appreciated by its surrounding
and orchard, not to mention a pig which did not last long neighbours.
needless to say. The property was on the first rise in
Tiverton Road, called at that time Garnet Street, and (To be continued)
bounded by those of the old established Exler family, (Editor’s note: this part of Avondale heights was renamed
and the Reisterers. On the other New Windsor Heights in the mid-1980s)
“ … a pet side of the road was a large area
owned by the Ringroses, whilst
eel …would be below on Blockhouse Bay Road, A Stabbing on the road (continued)
waiting with then called Manukau Road, lived dent spirits,” where Hayes was “under the influence of
the Sissons. The roads in question liquor.” (Hayes denied this). Denyer the publican
his head out were not graded as can be seen
claimed that neither soldier was drunk, although con-
from under the today. Blockhouse Bay Road con- sidering the time they spent at his establishment their
bank, anxious tinued level from New Windsor
Road and then plummeted steeply
sobriety seems unlikely.
for his morsels down to the intersection, and Hayes was found guilty of “unlawful wounding”,
Tiverton Road rose sharply up to despite Sadlier’s statement as to his good character
of meat.” the first rise and our entrance. The and blameless record, and was sentenced to imprison-
grade today on both roads is very ment and hard labour for twelve months.
gentle.
Living conditions were very simple and basic. We had a
little stream and well at the bottom of the garden from
where we collected water for our needs and father had
erected a bench upon which rested small tubs for filling.
Imagine the dismay of my mother when having carried
and filled the receptacles the whole box and dice col-
lapsed together with her washing and the whole opera-
tion had to start again from scratch. Now, this little
stream never dried out in the driest of summers and was
the home of tiny trout, freshwater crayfish and a pet eel.
On approaching the stream over the paddock we
would tap on out tin plate and he would be waiting with The Society and editorial staff thank
his head out from under the bank, anxious for his mor-
sels of meat. Sadly, progress and development of the sur- Avondale Business Association
rounding properties saw the major installation of the for their continued support and
sewage system with its drainage and pipes and the little sponsorship of this publication.
stream has disappeared. But of course these memories

Avondale Central, 1916
(From the “Harry March’s Memories” collection, courtesy of Ray
Kealey, Blockhouse Bay History Group)
While strolling through sweet Avondale and taking mental note,
A sudden frenzy seized me, and this is what I wrote: --
Right on the road a fountain stands out by itself by itself alone,
And twenty horses drank around its hardened face of stone.
On either side a smithy’s shop gave out a merry clang,
While butcher Binsted’s fly-proof door close by was heard to
bang.
One Atkinson on the corner stood, in the soft goods line is he,
With Teddy Wood who’s just as good in close propinquity.
And where the old pub was, alas, a civil servant stands,
With a reminiscent smile on his face and a lot of stamps in his
hands.
Ah, me! When I think of the days gone by I feel that I shall burst
–
What’s the use of eating corn beef now when you cannot quench
your thirst?
If a la mode the ladies wish to either walk or wed,
Miss March will try to quickly ply the needle and the thread;
And Mrs A.H. Grattan, of the “Little Lolly Shop,”
Sells lemonade and raspberry and cooling ginger pop,
Liquorice and jujubes and chocolates so nice –
When passing, pop into the shop, is very good advice.
A chemist’s shop is there, you bet, with a double-barrelled man,
Who’ll draw your teeth, or save your life on any other plan.
While Mr. Pendlebury’s got a place that’s quite unique,
All built in brick, and up to Dick, no better could you seek.
A carriage painter twirls his brush in an effort to make things
Volume 2 Issue 10
Page 4
gay,
And a Goodman keeps a shop hard by with hot pies all the day.
A good old shave or a fifty up can be had at McArthur’s show,
While Downing bold, a blacksmith old, will shoe your horse at a
blow.
And Mr. Bluck, with any luck will get you a place in – well,
Oh, any place at all with luck Mr. Bluck is sure to sell.
Boots you can get which won’t get wet by the station upon the
hill,
While Hooker’s the man with horse and van the carter’s place to
fill.
Two grocers bold on the corner old where Robertson used to
stand,
If they think you’re a brick will give you tick, while their chief
clerk plays in the band.
The local NEWS will record your views in the advertising line,
So who would not in Avondale live and bask in the sweet sun-
shine?
I took a thirsty look at the place where stood the dear old pub,
And glanced at the horses gathered round the concrete water
tub.
Ah, well, says I, if there ain’t no grog there’s nothing else they
lack,
And I stared at Waitakere’s crimson crest and soberly hastened
back.
-- “FLAXBLOSSOM”
The News, Saturday October 28, 1916.

The Avondale Historical Journal

Published by the Avondale-Waterview Historical Society Inc.
Editor: Lisa J. Truttman, 19 Methuen Road, Avondale, Auckland
Phone: (09) 828-8494, Fax: (09) 828-8497, email: historian@avondale.org.nz
Websites: AWHS site www.geocities.com/avondalehistory
Rimtark www.geocities.com/rimtark/index.html
Earth Settler www.earthsettler.tripod.com/esindex/earthsettlerhome.htm
Archive Room www.geocities.com/archiveroom/

Printed by Membership Information: Fees

Note: This is information for those wishing to join the Society. Existing
members will be advised when subs are due again — Editor.

Avondale Photo Centre, Individual $10

1962 Great North Road, Family $15
Group/Corporate $30
Cheques for membership fees may be made out to:
“Avondale-Waterview Historical Society”.
A receipt will be provided. Please send all fees to our registered
office address:
19 Methuen Road, Avondale.