THREE STREAMS & KAURI GROVE

Three Streams features an unusual combination of native bush and specimen  trees, native and exotic, in three stream valleys  and ridges, on the Albany hill, North Auckland, just outside the Albany village (343 SH 17).

Walkways provide easy access to the diversified vegetation, offering a visual and educational experience to young and old.

REGENERATION AND REVEGETATION

This site has been developed and planted as an Arboretum  by John Hogan since 1969.  Old pine trees have been removed, and over 4000 young trees and shrubs added and cared for, including 600 young kauris.  There is now an identifiable range of ages and regeneration of native species. Nikaus enhance the stream banks. Kauri Grove is a newer adjoining reserve with a number of mature kauris.

TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP

John, who is 92 in 2008, gifted the property to the QE11 National Trust in 1991, and it was transferred to North Shore City Council in  2004. It is now the centrepiece of three Council reserves, extending from Hobson Rd. down to Lucas Creek. John continues to reside in the house he had built in 1978, tends the surrounding garden area  and provides information to visitors. 

FRIENDS

A community group of volunteers, Friends of Three Streams and Kauri Grove, was incorporated in 2002 and is being reactivated when the Development Plan becomes operative. 

WEBSITE HISTORY

This website was started in 2002, and has been added to and updated at different intervals by several contributors. It is important for you to note when these updates have been made, because they will explain the differences you will observe between the text and the present appearance of the vegetation and landscape, showing the historical and botanical development of the site. We want to add more features that will stimulate your interest, provide opportunities for you to comment on your impressions, and improve everyone's ecological knowledge. This will include comparisons with similar reserves or gardens elsewhere in New Zealand or overseas, and general ecological information, including links to other relevant websites.