Гора Роскилл: История и развитие района Окленда

The name Mount Roskill was first recorded as Mt Rascal in 1841, on a map created by a Wesleyan missionary, referring to the volcanic peak Puketāpapa. The origin of this name is unclear, however an apocryphal story links the name to a livestock thief from the early colonial era, who allegedly used the peak as a grazing area for stolen sheep and cattle. The peak was variously called Mount Roskill or Mount Kennedy (after landowner Alexander Kennedy). The name Mount Roskill for the peak and the surrounding area likely cemented after 1867, when the local government administering Dominion Road was formed, which took the name Mt Roskill Highway Board. The first uses of Mount Roskill to describe the suburb in newspapers come from the late 1860s.

The volcanic peak Puketāpapa erupted an estimated 20,000 years ago. The earlier eruption of Ōwairaka / Mount Albert and Puketāpapa blocked the original flow of the Oakley Creek, causing much of the area between the two peaks to become a peaty swamp. Mount Roskill is located in the south of the Auckland isthmus, approximately seven kilometres to the south of the Auckland city centre. It is surrounded by the neighbouring suburbs of Three Kings, Sandringham, Wesley, Hillsborough and Mount Albert. The Mount Roskill shops are located at the intersection of Mount Albert and Dominion Roads.

The area has been settled by Tāmaki Māori iwi hapū and since at least the 13th century. The Oakley Creek, traditionally known as Te Auaunga, was a crayfish, eels and weka for Tāmaki Māori. Harakeke (New Zealand flax) and raupō, which grew along the banks of the creek, were harvested here to create Māori traditional textiles. By the early 18th century, the area was within the rohe of Waiohua. During the early 19th century, the focus of life for Ngāti Whātua was at Onehunga and Māngere, and the Mount Roskill area was used seasonally. Over time the image of Mount Roskill as a conservative Christian area waned, after a large influx of migrants and refugees into the area. The 2006 film No. 2, shot in Mount Roskill, was inspired by director Toa Fraser's experiences of growing up in Mount Roskill as a multicultural place. The area was one of the last in the country to go "wet", in 1999, having formally been a dry area where the selling of alcohol was prohibited. In the early 2000s, work began on extending the Southwestern Motorway north of Hillsborough. This led to 120 properties in Mount Roskill being purchased, in order to make way for the new motorway.

The first local government in the area was the Mt Roskill Highway Board, that formed on 7 August 1868 to administer and fund the roads in the area. In 1883, the Highway Board became the Mt Roskill Road Board. In 1927, Mt Roskill attempted to become a borough separate from the County of Eden, however this was unsuccessful. After growth in the area, Mt Roskill achieved borough status in 1947, meaning the area now had a borough council and mayor, and was able to invest more into infrastructure projects. Keith Hay was the longest serving mayor of Mount Roskill, holding the role from 1953 until 1974, when Dick Fickling was elected. Fickling resigned mid term in 1987, and was replaced by Hay's son David Hay in 1987. In 1970, Mt Roskill and Onehunga boroughs proposed merging into a single entity, however this merger never eventuated. In 1989, the borough was amalgamated into Auckland City. On 1 November 2010, the Auckland Council was formed as a unitary authority governing the entire Auckland Region, and Mount Roskill become a part of the Puketāpapa local board area, administered by the Puketāpapa Local Board. The Puketāpapa local board area forms a part of the Albert Eden Puketāpapa ward, which votes for two members of the Auckland Council. The Albert Eden Puketāpapa ward is represented by counsellors Christine Fletcher and Julie Fairey.

The Fickling Convention Centre is a community centre for Mount Roskill. Built in 1976, housing the community library, Citizens Advice Bureau, Fickling Hall. Named after Dick Fickling, the major. Originally envisioned as a small theme park. Mt Roskill Library was built and opened to public in August 1977. It was refurbished and the floor area extended in November 2011. Mt Roskill Library has English, Māori, Chinese, Tamil, Arabic and Somali collections. Mount Roskill Rugby Football Club, Bay Roskill Vikings, and Eden Roskill District Cricket Club are based in the suburb.

Mount Roskill Grammar School is a secondary school (years 9–13) with a roll of Mount Roskill Intermediate is an intermediate school (years 7–8) with a roll of Mount Roskill Primary is a contributing primary school (years 1–6) with a roll of These schools are on adjoining sites. Mount Roskill Grammar School opened first in 1953, followed by Mount Roskill Primary in 1955 and Mount Roskill Intermediate in 1956. Dominion Road School, Hay Park School and May Road School are contributing primary schools (years 1–6) with rolls of , and , respectively. May Road School opened in 1925, followed by Dominion Road School in 1929, which operated a satellite site of Three Kings School until 1937. Hay Park School opened in 1963. Monte Cecilia School is a state integrated Catholic contributing primary school (years 1–6) with a roll of The school opened in 1925, by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and the Sisters of Mercy, and was originally a private school. All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of