Upgrading our historic Albert Park

From City Scene, published on 13 April, 2008

Treasures preserved: Clough & Associates archaeologist Barrie Baquie has been onsite during the council's upgrade of the park to ensure that any important finds were protected or correctly excavated.

Auckland's historic Albert Park is undergoing improvements to create a safer, more attractive environment for park users - while protecting the park's heritage and landscape.

As well as upgrading footpaths, new seating and bins, security will be improved through better lighting across the park and installing security cameras near the band rotunda and fountain.

A new technique that uses compressed air to break up the soil has been used for much of the trenching work for the new lighting. This will ensure tree roots are protected.

The improvements across the park are due to be completed in June.

The works are part of the council's $157m, 10-year upgrade of CBD streetscapes and open spaces to make the central city an even more attractive place to live, work and visit.

Treasures preserved

Albert Park is a recorded archaeological site with a rich history that includes Maori settlement, serving as a 19th-century barracks and the development of formal gardens. Clough & Associates archaeologist Barrie Baquie (pictured) has been onsite during the council's upgrade of the park to ensure that any important finds were protected or correctly excavated. Finds so far include military buttons, early 19th-century coins (including those pictured) as well as brick, stone and mortar footings, and the foundations of the barracks buildings.