Victoria Street is a street in the
Auckland City Centre
The Auckland Central Business District (CBD), or Auckland city centre, is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. It is the area in which Auckland was established in 1840, by William Hobson on land gifted by ''ma ...
, New Zealand, located between the base of College Hill and
Albert Park. The street is split into two sections at the junction of
Queen Street, Victoria Street West and Victoria Street East.
History
Victoria Street West was formerly part of the foreshore of the
Auckland waterfront
The Auckland waterfront (rarely the Auckland harbourfront) is a city-side stretch of the southern Waitematā Harbour coastline in Auckland, New Zealand. Previously mostly dominated by Ports of Auckland uses, from the 2000s on it is becoming i ...
.
Victoria Park was the site of
Freemans Bay, which was in-filled during the 19th century. The vent of the
Albert Park Volcano was located at the modern location of the Victoria Street Carpark, which was quarried during the 1860s.
Victoria Street was the location of the first jail and courthouse in Auckland.
The large block to the south-west of the Queen Street intersection included the courthouse, labour yards and gallows.
Development of Victoria Street came later than early Auckland streets, which were focused on the waterfront to the north.
By the 1880s, the Victoria and Queen Street intersection had become one of the busiest locations in Auckland.
In 2024,
Te Waihorotiu railway station is planned to open on Victoria Street. Currently Te Hā Noa, a linear park for pedestrians and cyclists is under construction between Federal Street and Kitchener Street.
Notable locations
*Farmers Queen Street, a historic department store and the former location of a
Santa Claus
Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Chris ...
sculpture, which was annually attached to the building from 1998 until 2020.
*The
Sky Tower, the second tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere, and the
SkyCity Auckland
Skycity Auckland is an entertainment complex and casino in the Auckland CBD, central business district of Auckland, New Zealand, between Victoria and Federal Streets. Located at the base of the Sky Tower (Auckland), Sky Tower, it was the second ...
entertainment complex
*
Victoria Park, a major park constructed by reclaiming
Freemans Bay, a former bay of the
Auckland waterfront
The Auckland waterfront (rarely the Auckland harbourfront) is a city-side stretch of the southern Waitematā Harbour coastline in Auckland, New Zealand. Previously mostly dominated by Ports of Auckland uses, from the 2000s on it is becoming i ...
*
Victoria Park Market, a historic market and retail precinct opposite
Victoria Park
Gallery
01 Auckland New Zealand-1000133.jpg, The AA Centre and the Sky Tower, seen from Victoria Street
File:Queen Victoria Barnes Dance 231.JPG, Intersection of Victoria Street and Queen Street
File:Panorama of Auckland (4749714165).jpg, Victoria Park Market and Victoria Park in the early 20th century
References
{{Streets in Auckland
Auckland CBD
Streets in Auckland