Above: Doris Morgan on Tom Pearce’s Rex Acme Speed King at Waiatarua, on the way to Piha, circa 1935. Private Collection.
Fourth Heritage Conference coming up!
This year the West Auckland Heritage Conference will be held on Sunday 20th of October 2019, again at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall and three locations around it.
Now in its fourth year, the theme of the 2019 festival is Destination West and will feature respected historians, archaeologists and story tellers sharing the rich heritage of the area in the morning and a host of shorter workshops in the afternoon. Waitākere Ranges Local Board member Sandra Coney says once again the conference will showcase some of the incredible stories from the area’s past.
“It just gets better every year and it seems that we will never be short of incredible stories to tell and a history worthy of discussing. What these stories also tell us is that what makes this area special and why people choose to come ‘out west’ hasn’t really changed from days gone by so whether your family has lived here for generations, you are new to the west or just fascinated by history, this conference has something for everyone.”
Lunch and break times are great to catch up with fellow enthusiasts and exchange knowledge and recent discoveries, or have a look at the display boards and videos in the main hall.
This event is organised by the Waitākere Ranges Local Board with support from the Whau Local Board and it part of the Auckland Heritage Festival. The conference is a collaborative effort by many in the community and council.
Register Now
The conference is $20 for the whole day including lunch. Limited spaces, buy your ticket here.
Andrew Clifford, director of Te Uru and co-organiser, below.
Mandy Patmore, director of Kakano Youth Collective, below
Martin Sutcliffe and Naomi McCleary on the Corbans Art Estate, below
West Auckland Heritage Conferences 2016 and 2017
The West Auckland Heritage Conference has become a day long tradition as part of Auckland Heritage Week. The inaugural conference in 2016 was themed New Stories of the Old West and was held at the War Memorial Hall in Titirangi. Last year’s conferenced focussed on The People of the West at the Henderson Council Chambers. Most presentations from both days are available on this website.
The conference is a collaborative effort by many in the community and council, and is brought to you by the Waitakere Ranges Local Board.
Left: View of a scene from a theatre production by the Prospect Players showing Gladys Prior and Dr. Roberts in ‘Sinbad the Sailor’.
Photographer: John Thomas Diamond. J.T. Diamond Collection, JTD-12K-02023-1.
Auckland Libraries West Auckland Research Centre
2018 Conference
The third West Auckland Heritage Conference was held on 7th October 2018.
The theme was The Creative West.
Have a look at the programme, and some photos and a video from last year.
2017 Conference
The second West Auckland Heritage Conference was held on 8 October 2017.
The theme was The People of the West.
Have a look at the programme, the presentations and some photos from the conference
Pre-war Karekare gang outside Annex to the Barracks, Karekare, late 1930s
Left: Women fishing from wharf at Whatipu. 1941. Auckland Libraries. West Auckland Research Centre. J. T. Diamond Collection. JTD-06K-03148.
2016 Conference
The first West Auckland Heritage Conference was held on 2 October 2016.
The theme was New Stories of the Old West.
Have a look at the programme, and some photos and a video from last year.
Conference News
Read about some of the sessions in our 2017 conference programme.
What’s your story?
Submissions are now open for the West Auckland Heritage Conference, on Sunday 7 October 2018 at Titirangi War Memorial Hall. The theme for this year is: The Creative West. Submissions close Saturday June 9. Let’s discover the threads that weave together...
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We have a date!
Sunday 20th of October 2019 from 10 am to 3.30 pm is the date set for our fourth Heritage Conference! The format will be slightly different, with all the morning key note speakers at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall, and all the workshops and break out...
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Lois McIvor: “Paint the Light”
Naomi McCleary will present on Lois McIvor: "Paint the Light". Lois McIvor bestrode the Titirangi arts scene for 35 years; from 1953 to 1988. A colourful and imposing figure with a commanding presence and matching voice, she was an influential...
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