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Story: Streets and lighting

Laying wood blocks, 1913

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Laying wood blocks, 1913

On busy streets tar-soaked wooden blocks were laid to provide a stronger and more durable surface than macadam. The blocks would be cemented into place by pug (clay). This 1913 image shows workers laying blocks along Auckland’s Karangahape Road.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: 7-A119

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Adrian Humphris, Streets and lighting – Street construction and surfaces, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/24486/laying-wood-blocks-1913 (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Adrian Humphris, published 6 April 2010.