Western Springs - Definition and Overview

Western Springs is a residential suburb and park in the west of the city of Auckland in the north of New Zealand.

It is located four kilometres to the west of the city centre, situated to the north of State Highway 16 to the east of the suburb of Point Chevalier and the west of Westmere and Grey Lynn.

The suburb is dominated by the large park, within which are situated Auckland Zoo, Western Springs Stadium and M.O.T.A.T. (the Museum of Transport and Technology).

The area was initially part of a block of land farmed by a Scottish settler called William Motions. Early Auckland city was desperate for a water supply and bought his mill and 120 acres of land including the spring in 1874. A pumphouse was built and Western Springs was the Auckland City water supply until large dams and resorviors were constructed in the Waitakere ranges in the 1920s and 30s. The old pumphouse now forms the centrepeice of M.O.T.A.T.

During the second world war the lakeside was the site of a large camp for US service personnel.