Mount Albert Grammar School was founded in 1922. As the 1926 photo shows, the large main building was initially relatively austere looking, however close inspection of the photo reveals four young Phoenix palms along the front of the building that have filled in the space, now being higher than the building. Over time two of the palms were removed to allow the others space to grow undisturbed[1] (there are two other palms planted away from the main building). They have impressive size, as befits nearly 100 years of growing. The pair along the main building frontage nicely complement the architecture, and even a quick browse through the school’s website suggests that the palms are a well regarded feature of the school’s history (Lloyd, M., 2023).
Reference:
1, Mount Albert Grammar School facebook, ‘Arbor Day Plantings and Other Trees’, in ‘History and Archives’