[5] A traditional Māori story involves Ruarangi, a chief of the supernatural Patupaiarehe people, escaping a siege on Owairaka / Mount Albert through lava tunnels and emerging at Te Wai Ōrea.

[8] After European colonisation, the area became part of a block of land farmed by William Motion, a Scottish settler.

As Auckland grew over the mid-1800s, city officials found that well water was no longer sufficient at supplying the burgeoning population.

In the 1860s, a pipe from the Auckland Domain Springs was constructed, but a more permanent solution was required to service the growing demand.

In 1875, the swampy ground was made into a 15-acre (6ha) artificial lake 6 feet in depth and capable of holding 22 million gallons of water.

The cost of running and maintaining the pump was high however, and by the end of the 19th century Auckland's size required a much greater and more reliable source of freshwater, coinciding with public pressure to safeguard the remaining native forests of the Waitākere Ranges west of the city.

The height of the reservoirs above sea level meant pumping was kept to a minimum as the water could be gravity fed downwards to the city.

[11] From the early 1920s onwards various developments around Western Springs took place; The Auckland City Council Zoological Gardens were established to the north of the lake.

To the south of the lake, the Chamberlain Park Golf Club was established, and to the west, land was set aside for primary, intermediate and secondary schools to service the growing suburbs of Westmere and Point Chevalier.

To the north of the zoo was an area of mangrove swamp where the Western Springs creek reached the sea near the Meola Reef lava outcrop.

The reclaimed land was developed as playing fields and an additional area for the MOTAT Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield, and serves as the site of the Westpoint Performing Arts Center.

After the war, the population of the surrounding suburbs grew markedly and it became obvious that the untidy state of Western Springs was an embarrassment.

The lake, which had become completely choked by introduced waterweed was reclaimed, and the overgrown landscape was carefully cleared of weeds and rubbish.

In 1953 a plan was put forward to use the area around the lake as an amusement park with a scenic railway, fairground and rollercoasters, but this was soon discovered to be beyond the financial capabilities of Auckland City Council.