These prestigious apartments were built in 1969 in an effort to preserve Selwyn Robinson's magnificent estate. The care that went into the development at the time is still very much evident today. Venerable trees, some dating back to a hundred years before the property's development, sit amid almost 2.7 hectares of lush landscaped gardens giving residents a sense of permanence and peace.
From 1856 when the land was first granted to Auckland pioneer Andrew Sinclair (a natural historian and co-founder of Auckland Museum), to the present day,the entire estate has been retained intact. Previous owners include Edward King, builder of schools and churches in the Auckland Province; Albert Beetham, first chairman and of the South British Insurance Company and noted Horticulturalist; Isaac Richardson Vialoux, architect; Francis Sinclair, poet; polo –playing lawyer William Read Blomfield; and Selwyn Robinson.
It is specifically two of Auckland’s founding fathers who were responsible for tree planting in the Epsom/Eden areas what are now some of the most historic specimens in Auckland. George Burgoyne Owen, who is recorded as having planted the red turpentine and puriri on the Pines site and other historic trees in the area, Owens Road is named after him. The other person responsible for much of the planting of trees in the area at the time was Thomas Bannatyne Gillies.
The gardens and facilities have continued to mature and be nurtured by successive Board of directors and owners over the years. Three major trees were lost in 2004 when one was hit by lightning and two others being destroyed as it fell.
Historical notes taken from www.pinesapartments.co.nz