Drury: Local History and Historic Transport Routes

Drury’s local history brings together different forms of remembrance of the New Zealand Wars and the former importance of waterways and rail links. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the topics and actual public access: St John's Church (Anglican) is not open to the public.

Roma Coffee Roasters has a branch in Drury at 257 Great South Road. Business details can change; check the latest information before your visit.

Memorial Sites and Different Memories

St John's Church (Anglican) is located at 9 Cameron Place and Norrie Road and is a Category 2 historic place. A memorial stone for nine New Zealand Wars soldiers was unveiled in the churchyard on 6 June 2012. The nine died between 1862 and 1864 for non-combat-related reasons, through accidents or illness. The church itself is not open to the public—keep this restriction in mind when planning a visit.

The 1st Waikato Regiment New Zealand Wars Memorial is in Drury, next to the memorial stone. It was erected in 1867 for militiamen and volunteers who fell in the Battle of Titi Hill on 23 October 1863. Different experiences are thus commemorated side by side: one memorial is for soldiers who fell in battle, the other for nine men who died through accidents or illness.

Another historic landmark is the Drury-Runciman War Memorial. Prime Minister W. F. Massey unveiled it on 25 April 1922. These dates represent different events and forms of remembrance, not one continuous story: 1863 marks the Battle of Titi Hill, 1867 the erection of the memorial, and 1922 the unveiling of the Drury-Runciman War Memorial. Drury had already become the site of a military camp in 1855.

Waterways and Early Railway History

Transport history also offers a distinct perspective on local history. Construction of a horse-drawn tramway from the port to the coal mine began in Drury in 1861. It was the North Island’s first railway and led to the establishment of a railway line between Auckland and Drury. The connections mentioned here should be distinguished: construction of the tramway began in 1861; the line between Auckland and Drury was a separate historical development.

Drury’s waterways once provided access between Tāmaki Makaurau and Waikato. The name Opāheke also reflects the history of this landscape: the place was named after the Opāheke Papakāinga and pā at the confluence of Otuwairoa (Slippery Creek) and Drury Creek. River connections and railway construction thus represent different aspects of local history. While the waterways explain the former access between Tāmaki Makaurau and Waikato, railway history connects Drury with Auckland. This distinction helps put the historical transport links mentioned here into context.

Discover more destinations: Pukekohe, Karaka, Algies Bay, Stanmore Bay, Ellerslie, Great Barrier Island, Tuakau, Silverdale

For the overview of the wider region: Auckland.