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Story: City parks and green spaces

Auckland Domain, around 1890

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Auckland Domain, around 1890
From the 19th century green spaces like the Auckland Domain were often described as the ‘lungs’ of the city – a healthy, open environment where city dwellers could breathe fresh air, ramble about, and play sports and games. James Eastwood’s watercolour shows people walking in the forest and running on the grass, and archery targets in the foreground.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: A-050-004

by James Eastwood

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, City parks and green spaces – Early green spaces in major cities, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/20558/auckland-domain-around-1890 (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 26 February 2010.