Panmure Bridge

Between 1847 and 1852, a number of towns in the Auckland Region were established by Governor George Grey as outposts for the Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps, a collection of retired British and Irish soldiers, to serve as a buffer against a perceived threat of war from the south.

In 1857, residents petitioned the Auckland Provincial Council for a bridge across the river,[3] to replace the inconsistent ferry services.

[4] The Tamaki Bridge Act was passed in February 1864,[1] allowing the province to raise funds for its construction, however financial difficulties delayed the project.

[4] Initially designed by William Rickford Collett, the bridge was constructed of steel, basalt rock from Melbourne, tōtara wood piles and a kauri deck.

[1] Work began in October 1864, however issues involving the depth of the river bed meant that repairs on the Muntz metal sheaths were needed to be undertaken.

[3] In December 1865, the bridge was first opened for public use, timed for Auckland residents to use to get to the Howick Races on Boxing Day.

[4] Heavy rain caused larger horse-drawn carriages to sink into the unfinished embankments on the Pakuranga side of the bridge.

[3] After repairs in 2013, the swing-span mechanism on the east side was added to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust register in 2014.

The original bridge, pictured in the 19th Century
Opening of the second bridge in 1916
The 2021 busway bridge. The derelict building beneath the bridge protected the remains of original 1865 swing bridge. The building was demolished in 2023.
Remains of the 1865 swing bridge, visible in 2023