Story: Auckland region

Taming the wilderness

Taming the wilderness

In 1843 John Johnson painted this view of his house near Official Bay, entitled ‘And the wilderness shall become the fruitful field’. It reflects the settler attitude that Auckland’s landscape needed to be tamed. In the garden, native species have been replaced by exotic grasses and trees (and squash, bottom left).

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: E-216-f-051
Sepia and ink wash by John Johnson

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:

Margaret McClure, 'Auckland region - Climate, plants and animals', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/15877/taming-the-wilderness (accessed 19 May 2024)

Story by Margaret McClure, updated 1 Aug 2016