By 1911, growth in the area had increased to the point where Mount Albert was declared an independent borough, which was later absorbed into Auckland.

The suburb is centred around Ōwairaka / Mount Albert, a volcano which erupted an estimated 120,000 years ago.

A traditional story involves Ruarangi, a chief of the supernatural Patupaiarehe people, escaping a siege on the volcano through lava tunnels.

[9][10] The name Ōwairaka refers to Wairaka, an early Māori ancestor, who was the daughter of Toroa, the captain of the Mātaatua voyaging waka.

Ōwairaka / Mount Albert was the western-most hill-top pā of Waiohua and had extensive terraces and cultivations, although not as many as Maungakiekie or Maungawhau to the east.

Ngāti Whātua had a much smaller population than the Waiohua, and seaside areas were preferred places to live.

Harakeke (New Zealand flax) and raupō, which grew along the banks of the creek, were harvested here to create Māori traditional textiles.

[12] In 1820, English priest Samuel Marsden visited the area, and climbed to the peak of Ōwairaka / Mount Albert with the paramount chief of Ngāti Whātua, Apihai Te Kawau.

[13] On 29 June 1841, Mount Albert was sold to the Crown by Ngāti Whātua, as a part of a 12,000 acre section.

[22] The Kerr Taylor family renovated their home in the early 1870s, transforming Alberton into an elaborate Anglo-Indian-inspired mansion, that hosted many formal events in the area.

[23] Mount Albert railway station opened in March 1880, connecting Morningside to Auckland city by rail,[24] and spurring suburban growth.

[31] By 1911, the population of the area had grown to 6,666,[32] and in 1912 the King George V Hall opened, becoming a social hub for Mount Albert.

[33] The area was still significantly more rural compared to Kingsland in the north-east, home to many dairy and poultry farms.

[34] In 1915, the Auckland tramline reached the suburb, creating suburban growth and leading to the development of the Mount Albert commercial shopping area, originally known as Ohlsen's Corner.

[35] As the Mount Albert shops developed, the area gained the name the Terminus, as at the time it was the final stop on the tramline along New North Road.

[39] In April 1961, the Mount Albert War Memorial Hall, a large modernist community centre, was constructed.

The residents of Albert-Eden elect a local board, and two councillors from the Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward to sit on the Auckland Council.

[56] Rugby player Sonny Bill Williams and actress Lucy Lawless both grew up in Mount Albert.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark, famous acoustician Sir Harold Marshall and the former TVNZ's Breakfast presenter Petra Bagust are current residents of the area.

[70][71] Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Nga Maungarongo is a full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of 87.