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Kōrero: Auckland region

Synagogue and school

Synagogue and school

Auckland’s main (Orthodox) synagogue is located in inner-city Greys Avenue. It was designed in the 1960s in a Modernist style by John Goldwater. The complex is planned around a central courtyard – visible through the entrance gates in this photograph – and includes a school and kindergarten. The synagogue won an architectural award in 1970.

Auckland’s Jews have played an important part in city life since colonial times. Perhaps the most influential was Arthur Myers, a leading businessman and mayor of Auckland (1905–1909). In 1913 he donated inner-city land for what became Myers Park. Appropriately, the synagogue backs onto the park.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection

by Margaret Lovell-Smith

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Margaret McClure, Auckland region – Popular culture, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/15929/synagogue-and-school (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Margaret McClure, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2016.

Comments


20 February 2017
Thanks, Seth (and Jeremy) - we've updated the caption now. The NZIA Journal confirms John Goldwater was awarded the Silver Medal for the synagogue in 1970. The structure has subsequently been remodeled by Peddle Thorp Aitken Ltd
Seth Schanzer
20 February 2017
Albert Goldwater was the Architect of the Synagogue (Beth Shalom) on Manukau Rd in Epsom. The Auckland Hebrew Congregation (Beth El) as pictured here was designed by Alberts son, John Goldwater.
Jeremy Salmond
15 March 2012
The Auckland Greys Avenue Synagogue was not designed by Albert Goldwater, as stated in page 13 of 'Popular Culture, Auckland Region', but by his son, John Goldwater.