Auckland Grammar School is one of New Zealand’s most prestigious schools. The Mountain Road site was opened in 1916. The Spanish Mission style architecture was chosen after the architects - Mrs Arnold and Abbott - had toured Southern California, being highly impressed with the style [1]. It is quite likely they would have seen Phoenix palms planted along with such buildings, so perhaps that could have been a stimulus for the early – circa 1918 – planting of the Phoenix palm that can be clearly seen to the left of the main building in the 1928 historic photo [2]. However, it is also true that other Phoenix palms already existed in Auckland, as early as 1905 [3], so that could also have been a stimulus for the planting. Either way, the large palm (there are 2 other younger ones) is undoubtedly a significant part of the school's imagery – it seems to have an affinity with the mission style building which is heritage listed. At the time of photography the lawn area was undergoing redevelopment, but clearly the palms were being preserved.
References:
1. Auckland Grammar School website, at: The School’s History.
2. ‘Front and eastern view of Auckland Grammar School', 1928, J Richardson photograph, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection, 1-W0612
3. Lloyd, M, 2023, The Garden History Research Foundation website;
The significant Phoenix palms of central Auckland.