Heritage and cultural highlights

Designed by Roy Lippincott and built between 1923 and 1926, the Old Arts Building, now known as the ClockTower, is a landmark of Perpendicular Gothic architecture with New Zealand motifs such as kea, kākā, and ponga fronds. Its clock tower is an iconic symbol of the University. The building reflects progressive educational ideals and remains central to campus life.

Constructed in 1872 by the Auckland Choral Society, this neo-classical building was the city’s main concert venue for decades. It hosted significant events, including the graduation of Kate Edger, the first woman in the British Empire to earn a Bachelor of Arts. Later adapted for university use, it features Baroque wings added in 1919 and 1925. Old Choral Hall will reopen in 2025 after a significant renovation.

Built in 1856, this Italianate mansion was once the residence of New Zealand’s governors. It played host to royalty and dignitaries and now serves as the University’s Staff Common Room. Old Government House is located on and near a number of sites important to local iwi, including a former pā (fortified village) known as Te Reuroa, and a natural spring (Waiariki).

Waiariki, or ‘chiefly waters’, is a puna or natural spring that can be found in the Law School grounds, named for its importance as a life-giving source of potable spring water.

Covering 41,500 square metres, the conservation area of the City Campus includes over 400 mature trees. The gardens, especially around Old Government House, offer a tranquil retreat. They reflect both colonial and Indigenous planting traditions and are integral to the environmental and cultural heritage of the campus.

Now known as the Kenneth Myers Centre, this striking neo-Romanesque building was constructed in 1934 as New Zealand’s first purpose-built radio station. It later became the country’s first operational television studio in 1960. Today, it houses the Gus Fisher Gallery and performing arts spaces, retaining its Art Deco interiors and historic broadcasting legacy.

About 85 metres of basalt wall on Alfred Street - quarried from Maungawhau/Mt Eden - is all that remains of Albert Barracks, a nine-hectare garrison built between 1846 and 1852 to defend Auckland after conflict in Kororāreka/Russell. Constructed by Māori and British workers, the wall symbolises early cooperation and evolving relationships between Māori and Pākehā.

Opened in 1988, Waipapa Marae is the heart of Māori life on campus. Its meeting house, Tāne-nui-ā-rangi, was carved from tōtara and kauri donated by Ngāti Hine and represents all major iwi and Pacific connections. It is a place for learning, ceremony, and community engagement, embodying pan-tribal and pan-Pacific values.

The Fale Pasifika is the spiritual home of the University’s Pacific community. Completed in 2004, it is one of the largest structures of its kind globally and serves as a venue for cultural events, performances, and academic gatherings. It symbolises Pacific identity and connection within the University.

University grounds and most buildings are open to the public during standard operating hours. Bookings are required to access special facilities, including Waipapa Marae and Fale Pasifika.

University of Auckland City Campus public tours are offered by the Parnell Community Centre as part of the annual heritage festival. For a self-guided tour, check out the map and self-guided podcast on Auckland University - Campus Stories Heritage Walk.