Birkenhead: The Way We Were

Birkenhead on the North Shore of Auckland was once full of strawberry fields and orchards, muddy roads and horses and carts. This local history book tells stories and shows old photos of the things that kids want to know about their town over the last 100 years - like the clothes that people wore and the jobs they did, how they travelled, their shops, theatres, schools and toys. It includes fabulous photographs from the local history collection at Birkenhead Library.

I first worked at Birkenhead Library as a weekend supervisor, but I also worked extra hours cataloguing their collection of old photographs. The library manager knew that I did freelance writing for magazines, and asked if I would like to write a book about Birkenhead for children. She wanted the book to be published in 1993, which was the centennial year of women being allowed to vote in New Zealand. Most local history books look at details about things like roads and sewerage from council minute books. I wanted to focus on the things that kids would be interested in, which is why there are photos of the local policeman, people riding old bicycles, groceries being delivered by horse and cart, and the shop next to the picture theatre with its magazines and lollies on display during wartime.

Click on these images to buy these books by other authors at Fishpond