Located in the Remuera suburb, to the east of the Newmarket commercial suburb, it has been extensively modified by human use, first by Māori for use as a pā and later by use as quarry and pasture land before finally having a water reservoir installed in its cone to supply the surrounding area.

An additional, partially buried, water reservoir was built on the low southern side of the mountain in 1955.

[4] Remuwera was originally the name of a pā site on the hill that was also utilised for sweet potato and food gardens.

[6] A water reservoir was constructed on the northwestern side of Ōhinerau / Mount Hobson in 1935, damaging the terracing of the pā.

The legislation specified that the land be held in trust "for the common benefit of Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau and the other people of Auckland".