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Story: Parliament

Parliament buildings: Auckland, 1859

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Parliament buildings: Auckland, 1859

The first Parliament building was opened in 1854 at Mechanics Bay, Auckland. Lacking space and facilities, it was jokingly referred to as the 'Shedifice'. This 1859 watercolour shows the building at far left: it is the plain three-gabled structure.

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

Reference: 1937/13/1

by Andrew Robertson

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

John E. Martin, Parliament – Parliament overview, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/33673/parliament-buildings-auckland-1859 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John E. Martin, published 23 May 2012, updated 1 February 2015.