To continue the same theme of images taken around 1901 vs today of the same locations and (close to) the same field of view. This time we are in Devonport, predictably the home of NZ's Navy and where I grew up when we came to NZ when I was 9. I have memories of climbing to the location of this image, the volcanic cone of Mt Victoria, and getting into trouble with my friends as we explored the ammunition stores in the underground hollow of the cone."
Today, it is a regional park, but with the same brilliant outlook across the navy base to Auckland City.
Devonport was one of Auckland's first suburbs to be developed, hence the style of Victorian bungalow architecture that is preserved. It is now one of Auckland's most sought-after and expensive suburbs, but being down a long peninsula that bears a striking resemblance to a map of Italy, with only one access road, the traffic is pretty daunting. Luckily, the ferry offers a short 15min ride to the city centre.
The 1901 image shows a squadron of Royal Navy ships giving a salute to the Royal Yacht: HMS Ophir conveying the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York on an extensive tour of the British Empire in 1901.
Today the navy base, HMNZS Philomel, is still the home of the RNZN, and normally has a lot of ships tied up but they were away on other duties, leaving an off-shore patrol vessel (left), HMNZS Canterbury - a multi-role supply ship, with an ANZAC-class frigate (either Te Mana or Te Kaha) tied up behind.
