Albert Park tunnels: Difference between revisions
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== History == |
== History == |
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[[New Zealand in World War II|New Zealand's involvement in the war]] had begun in 1939, and with [[Axis naval activity in New Zealand waters|Axis naval activity]] occuring in New Zealand waters, domestic defence plans were necessary, with much capital being invested. Matters became urgent with the entry of [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] into the war in 1941. A number of [[Coastal fortifications of New Zealand|coastal defences]] were already in place throughout the country, with a concentration in Auckland, and [[Auckland City Council]] felt the need for air raid shelters in the central city, in preparation for Japanese attack. Albert Park, a communal facility built in the 1880s on the site of a 1840s army barracks,<ref>Clough, Rod (PhD); ''Albert Park Conservation/Management Plan: Archaeological Assessment'', Clough & Associates, Auckland, 1996</ref> was chosen as the site, and a large complex of tunnels was built under the park. Situated in the heart of the city, they would be easily accessible for residents. Unusually,{{fact}} the tunnels were constructed by a civilian council rather than a national authority. |
[[New Zealand in World War II|New Zealand's involvement in the war]] had begun in 1939, and with [[Axis naval activity in New Zealand waters|Axis naval activity]] occuring in New Zealand waters, domestic defence plans were necessary, with much capital being invested. Matters became urgent with the entry of [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] into the war in 1941. A number of [[Coastal fortifications of New Zealand|coastal defences]] were already in place throughout the country, with a concentration in Auckland, and [[Auckland City Council]] felt the need for air raid shelters in the central city, in preparation for Japanese attack. Albert Park, a communal facility built in the 1880s on the site of a 1840s army barracks,<ref>Clough, Rod (PhD); ''Albert Park Conservation/Management Plan: Archaeological Assessment'', Clough & Associates, Auckland, 1996</ref> was chosen as the site, and in 1942 a large complex of tunnels and shelters was built under the park,<ref>[http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/places/parks/albertpark.asp Auckland City Council: Albert Park]</ref> capable of sheltering 22,000 people.<ref name="Roots">[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nzlauckl/htunnel.html Auckland GenWb: Albert Park Tunnels]</ref> Situated in the heart of the city, they would be easily accessible for residents. Unusually,{{fact}} the tunnels were constructed by a civilian council rather than a national authority. |
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===Post-war history=== |
===Post-war history=== |
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After the war, the tunnels were filled in with unfired clay bricks, the entrances buried and the air shafts and other shafts in-filled. Since then, a number of schemes have been proposed to make use of reopened tunnels. In the 1960s there were newspaper articles proposing ideas, and interest was renewed in the 1990s by two separate groups: a businessman seeking to open it as a tourism venture, and a group of architecture students with their lecturer who considered the tunnels might offer a solution to Auckland’s traffic problems.<ref>[http://local.wasp.uwa.edu.au/~pbourke/other/albert/journey.html Exploration by the Intrepid Binary Brothers]</ref>. In 1996, the city council signed a contract with tourism promotor William Reid to unseal the tunnels and |
After the war, the tunnels were filled in with unfired clay bricks, the entrances buried and the air shafts and other shafts in-filled. Since then, a number of schemes have been proposed to make use of reopened tunnels. In the 1960s there were newspaper articles proposing ideas, and interest was renewed in the 1990s by two separate groups: a businessman seeking to open it as a tourism venture, and a group of architecture students with their lecturer who considered the tunnels might offer a solution to Auckland’s traffic problems.<ref>[http://local.wasp.uwa.edu.au/~pbourke/other/albert/journey.html Exploration by the Intrepid Binary Brothers]</ref>. In 1996, the city council signed a contract with tourism promotor William Reid, giving him permission to unseal the tunnels and perform an inspection, with a view to developing a [[tourist attraction]].<ref name="SCENE">[http://local.wasp.uwa.edu.au/~pbourke/other/albert/press.html "Albert Park Tunnels Agreement Signed", SCENE, March 4,1996]</ref> Related legislation was passed in 2001.<ref>[http://www.beehive.govt.nz/node/12024 New Zealand Government Website] "Access to Albert Park tunnels included in new legislation", 9 October 2001 |
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</ref> Since the tunnels have been closed for 61 years, but not air-tight, it is possible an eco-system has developed inside.{{fact}} |
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In 2005, subsidence occured within the park, due to the collapse of in-fill soil within the old ventilation shafts.<ref>[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0510/S00129.htm "Investigation into subsidence in Albert Park"] Wednesday, 19 October 2005, 12:56 pm Press Release: Auckland City Council</ref> |
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Three blocked entrances to the tunnels are located behind the Park's Gateway sculpture.<ref>[http://albertpark.aotearoacam.com/ Aoteroa Cam: Albert Park]</ref> |
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==Construction and structure== |
==Construction and structure== |
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{{see also|Air raid shelter}} |
{{see also|Air raid shelter}} |
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There are more than 3.5 kilometres of tunnels,<ref name="Roots"/> reaching from Constitution Hill to Wellesley Street, involving a network of shelters and first aid posts, all ventilated by air shafts.<ref name="SCENE"/> |
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There are a number of peculiarities found in the Albert Park Tunnels that are not found in other sites which add to the architectural value of the site.{{fact}} These include ‘[[baffles]]’, and the continuous air system. |
There are a number of peculiarities found in the Albert Park Tunnels that are not found in other sites which add to the architectural value of the site.{{fact}} These include ‘[[baffles]]’, and the continuous air system. |
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Revision as of 00:20, 4 July 2008
The Albert Park tunnels are found largely beneath Albert Park, in central Auckland, New Zealand. The tunnels were constructed as air raid shelters during the Second World War. At the conclusion of the war they were sealed to prevent vandalism or misuse by the public, and as a protection against carbon dioxide build-up or tunnel collapse.
History
New Zealand's involvement in the war had begun in 1939, and with Axis naval activity occuring in New Zealand waters, domestic defence plans were necessary, with much capital being invested. Matters became urgent with the entry of Japan into the war in 1941. A number of coastal defences were already in place throughout the country, with a concentration in Auckland, and Auckland City Council felt the need for air raid shelters in the central city, in preparation for Japanese attack. Albert Park, a communal facility built in the 1880s on the site of a 1840s army barracks,[1] was chosen as the site, and in 1942 a large complex of tunnels and shelters was built under the park,[2] capable of sheltering 22,000 people.[3] Situated in the heart of the city, they would be easily accessible for residents. Unusually,[citation needed] the tunnels were constructed by a civilian council rather than a national authority.
Post-war history
After the war, the tunnels were filled in with unfired clay bricks, the entrances buried and the air shafts and other shafts in-filled. Since then, a number of schemes have been proposed to make use of reopened tunnels. In the 1960s there were newspaper articles proposing ideas, and interest was renewed in the 1990s by two separate groups: a businessman seeking to open it as a tourism venture, and a group of architecture students with their lecturer who considered the tunnels might offer a solution to Auckland’s traffic problems.[4]. In 1996, the city council signed a contract with tourism promotor William Reid, giving him permission to unseal the tunnels and perform an inspection, with a view to developing a tourist attraction.[5] Related legislation was passed in 2001.[6] Since the tunnels have been closed for 61 years, but not air-tight, it is possible an eco-system has developed inside.[citation needed]
In 2005, subsidence occured within the park, due to the collapse of in-fill soil within the old ventilation shafts.[7] Three blocked entrances to the tunnels are located behind the Park's Gateway sculpture.[8]
Construction and structure
There are more than 3.5 kilometres of tunnels,[3] reaching from Constitution Hill to Wellesley Street, involving a network of shelters and first aid posts, all ventilated by air shafts.[5] There are a number of peculiarities found in the Albert Park Tunnels that are not found in other sites which add to the architectural value of the site.[citation needed] These include ‘baffles’, and the continuous air system.
The tunnel complex, unlike many other air raid shelter complexes, does not have blast doors, but instead has baffles. The baffle is a block in a tunnel constructed from wood, lead and stone to absorb the shock wave in the event of a bomb blast. The small tunnels around them allowed passage and reduced the shock with the perpendicular reflections.
The tunnels also feature a continuous air system. The tunnels were designed with no dips in altitude or dead ends where pockets of ‘dead air’ could build up, which would prove fatal for anyone caught in one. By keeping the tunnels ‘continuous’ and with six diesel air pumps fresh air would have been maintained without much effort and optimal survival inside would have been assured.
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Illustrations of ‘baffles’ -
Enlargement of Altern Rd entrance to tunnel complex with three ‘baffles’ encompassed inside red box -
Enlargement of entrances 3, 4 & 5 to tunnel complex with three individual ‘baffles’ isolated in red boxes
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Enlargement of entrance 2 to tunnel complex with ‘baffle’ isolated in red box -
Enlargement of entrance 1 to tunnel complex with ‘baffle’ isolated in red box -
Annotated ‘Baffle’
References
- ^ Clough, Rod (PhD); Albert Park Conservation/Management Plan: Archaeological Assessment, Clough & Associates, Auckland, 1996
- ^ Auckland City Council: Albert Park
- ^ a b Auckland GenWb: Albert Park Tunnels
- ^ Exploration by the Intrepid Binary Brothers
- ^ a b "Albert Park Tunnels Agreement Signed", SCENE, March 4,1996
- ^ New Zealand Government Website "Access to Albert Park tunnels included in new legislation", 9 October 2001
- ^ "Investigation into subsidence in Albert Park" Wednesday, 19 October 2005, 12:56 pm Press Release: Auckland City Council
- ^ Aoteroa Cam: Albert Park
Publications
Reports
- Management Plan at Auckland City Council - Appendix 2 summarising the history
- Pilkington, Scott 2007: 'Investigation into Heritage Management - Albert Park Air Raid Shelters Case Study', Unpublished report prepared for University of Auckland