A century in stone: University of Auckland ClockTower turns 100

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland is celebrating the centenary of one of its most recognisable buildings, the ClockTower.

Opened on 12 March 1926, the 54-metre-high landmark tower, together with the building beneath, was the University’s first purpose-built and permanent structure. Today, it stands as an enduring symbol of the University’s history, identity and ambition.

Early critics feared the unconventional gothic structure would “scare old ladies in the park”, but the University forged ahead, securing its future in the central city and strengthening the case for more accessible higher education in Auckland.

Stories behind the stonework

For generations, the ClockTower has been the backdrop to campus life. It has housed a range of departments, served as home to the University library, hosted lectures and exams and provided offices for administrative staff, including those of the Vice-Chancellor and senior leaders today.

It has also witnessed its fair share of unexpected moments and, as the saying goes, if walls could talk, the ClockTower would have plenty of stories to share.

Alongside students rushing to class, late-night study sessions and graduation days, it has provided the backdrop to wedding photo shoots and television productions. Students once parked a car inside as a capping stunt, and even the occasional possum has taken up residence. Today, it continues to attract a steady stream of visitors and tourists daily.

These ordinary and not-so-ordinary moments have made the ClockTower a place rich with meaning and memories.

Vice-Chancellor Dawn Freshwater says the centenary is an opportunity to reflect on what the ClockTower represents.

"It was built to provide academia with a permanent place in the city and to improve accessibility. As the University has evolved, it has become a symbol of our distinctive role in advancing knowledge that serves society.

“It’s wonderful that after 100 years, the ClockTower remains a defining feature of City Campus, and I hope it will continue to inspire those who learn and work here for many generations to come”.

For Michael Steedman, the University’s Kaiarataki, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, the decorative motifs on the ClockTower’s exterior reflect an early acknowledgement of the University’s local identity.

“Unusually for a building of its time, the ClockTower has decorative elements that reflect the natural environment. Kea, kākā, ponga fronds and harakeke seed pods were incorporated into the exterior stonework, giving the building a distinctively Aotearoa identity and instilling a strong sense of place.

“That early recognition of the land serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging place, something the University continues to do across its campuses today.”

For the University’s Property Services team, maintaining the ClockTower requires careful planning to balance heritage preservation with practicality on a modern campus.

“The University has a number of significant heritage buildings. Our approach is to conserve historic fabric where appropriate while ensuring they remain usable, functional spaces that can support our university community well into the future,” says Chief Property Officer Simon Neale.

“For the ClockTower in particular, that balance between heritage and usability is central to every decision we make. We’re committed to protecting its Category 1 Historic Place character and significance while upgrading and adapting its spaces to meet contemporary student and staff needs."

Recent restoration work reflects that balance. An extensive exterior conservation project replaced decades of patch repairs, with specialists restoring the fine plaster coating, repairing cracks, and applying a carefully pigmented topcoat that matches the Oamaru stone used in the original construction to recreate a historically appropriate finish.

Repairs to the dome, roof elements and stone joints strengthened long‑term performance and retained seismic integrity, while preserving original fabric.

The ClockTower’s heritage status meant that repairers needed an innovative solution to avoid scaffolding being directly fixed to the building. Engineers designed a fully self‑supporting system, which has since been recognised as an outstanding piece of temporary engineering and submitted for an international award.

To mark the ClockTower’s centenary, the University is holding the exhibition: 'Standing tall: a century of the ClockTower'.

This exhibition highlights the design, construction and life of the ClockTower. It is open from 11am-4pm, Monday to Friday from 2 March to 24 June 2026, at He Māra Mahara Cultural Collections, Level M, Te Herenga Mātauranga Whānui General Library.