Initially large country houses and farms dotted the landscape but from the 1890s onwards suburban development spread southwards from Newmarket across the fields of Epsom.

Since the early 1990s there has been a considerable amount of property development, with clutches of townhouses built among the traditional tracts of villas and bungalows in some parts of Greenlane.

The broad, flat pastureland here at the intersection of Green Lane and Manukau Roads was used for sporting events from the 1850s onwards but the Alexandra Park Raceway and Auckland Showgrounds were only formally established around 1900.

Established in 1902, the tram company had storage sheds and an administrative office block built here, as it was halfway between Auckland and Onehunga.

The Greenlane shops were developed in conjunction with the tram line in the early 20th century, servicing the needs of the local community and visitors to the raceway, showgrounds, hospital, and parks.

[5] Greenlane Clinical Centre is one of the major hospital facilities within the jurisdiction of Te Whatu Ora Northern Region (formerly the Auckland District Health Board).

The earliest building on the site dates from 1890 and was donated by Edward Costley, an Auckland businessman who bequeathed money for many charitable works.

During World War II large numbers of prefabricated buildings were constructed in the eastern part of Cornwall Park in readiness for wounded and sick American soldiers to be evacuated from Guadalcanal.

Within the park grounds there is a licensed bistro, a cafe and coffee truck as well as a creamery selling icecreams and waffles.

The iconic obelisk on top of Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill is visible night and day, thanks to the red light on its tip.

Greenlane falls across two parliamentary electorates: Since the 2010 amalgamation of councils, Greenlane also falls across two wards for electing local boards of the Auckland Council, and as of the 2022 local elections, the representation is as follows: Cornwall Park District School is a coeducational contributing primary school (years 1-6) with a roll of 746 as of November 2024.