Street name changes by the Birkenhead Borough Council from 8 August 1912 also included Chelsea and Birkdale. "Hadfield's" from the previous column is likely to be Albert Hadfield's family, who lived on the north side of what was Roberts Road and to the west of Roseberry Avenue. Mokoia Road ends at the corner with Balmain Road. However, that part of Roberts Road between Balmain and the reservoir was renamed Waipa Street in 1912. Roseberry Avenue and Balmain Road were not renamed in 1912, but Chelsea Road became Seddon Road (Premier Richard John Seddon had died in 1906) and then became Colonial Road from February 1967. Newly named in 1912, Domain Road, from Balmain Road to the present day Kauri Point Centennial Park, was renamed Onetaunga Road from February 1967.
Kinnaird's Road became Wairoa Avenue in 1912; later, from February 1968,i t became Mahara Avenue where the current Birkenhead Museum is. Samuel Slimond Kinnaird lived on the north side of Roberts Road, and for 36 years worked at the sugar works, retiring in 1913 as a foreman. He died in 1936. Towards Birkdale, where in 1912 less than 15% of the total population of Birkenhead Borough lived, we had Fishers Road, which became Kauri Road in 1912. This was originally named after Frank Simpson Fisher, a fruit grower who lived on the south side of Roberts Road, near the reservoir.
Victoria Road East retained its name in 1912, but was renamed Verran Road (after my great-grandparents) from February 1967, also including Victoria Road West to Birkdale Road. Verrans Corner dates from 1908. Vermont Street also retained its name in 1912, but from February 1967 became Verbena Road. Newly named Victoria Road West stretched from the reservoir to Jarrett's. That's either A J Jarrett, an accountant who lived in Birkdale until July 1911, or Edward Charles Jarrett, an Island Bay poultry farmer who died in 1948. One part of Jarrett's Road became Beach Road (later Island Bay Road) while the other became Rangatira Road (from Jarrett's to Tramway Road).
Kiwi Road stretched from "Jeffries" [sic] at Tramway Road to Pine Avenue. "Jeffries" is likely Thomas Jeffrey a Birkdale onion grower, although there is also a William Jeffrey in the area. In 1967, Kiwi Road became part of Rangatira Road, to Hilders Corner at Beach Haven. In 1912, Kia Ora Road was named from the unnamed road between "Finch's (dentist)" [sic] and Hobbs, likely named for the Hobbs family of Birkdale. John Hobbs' widow was still alive in 1911. Alfred J. Finch was an Auckland dentist at that time, but Frank F. Finch, a civil engineer who lived in Victoria Road, Birkdale, was also a borough councillor, Birkdale School committee chair and scoutmaster.
Creek Road became Huia Road (now Aeroview from February 1967, from the 1950s-era subdivision) and the road at Fordham's became Manuka Road (later reinstated as Fordham Road in 1968). George Fordham died in 1951. Further on, the original Pine Avenue from 8 August 1889 became Puriri Road in 1912 and in February 1967 became Beach Haven Road.
Karaka Road, formed in 1912 and described as being between Hare's and Fry's, became Kahika from February 1967. Hare could have been Edward Hare, a masseur and "medical electrician" who lived in Birkdale, or Alexander Haire, a Birkdale farmer. There is no suitable "Fry" in either the electoral rolls or street directory.
Eskdale Road retained its name in 1912, and Tramway Road dates back to 8 August 1889. In 1912, Beer's Road became Tiri Road (from 1913 Tiri Tiri Road), but is it after Arthur Henry Beer's family of Birkdale, or local vine grower Henry Beere? Salisbury Road was unchanged in 1912, while Birkdale Road was originally named on 8 August 1889, but in 1912 renamed Islington Avenue after the Governor-General at the time. However, in June 1913 that street name reverted to Birkdale Road.
david.verran@xtra.co.nz
