Victoria Street, Auckland
{{Short description|Street in Auckland city centre, New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox street
| name = Victoria Street
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| image = Auckland (870363180).jpg
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| caption = Victoria Street in 2007, looking west towards the Sky Tower
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| length_km = 1.42
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| postal_code = 1010
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| location = Auckland City Centre, New Zealand
| coordinates = {{coord|-36.84806|174.76197|type:landmark_region:NZ|display=title, inline}}
| direction_a = West
| terminus_a = College Hill
Beaumont Street
| direction_b = East
| terminus_b = Kitchener Street
| junction = Queen Street
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Victoria Street is a street in the Auckland City Centre, New Zealand, located between the base of College Hill and Albert Park. The street is split into two sections at the junction of Queen Street, Victoria Street West and Victoria Street East.
History
Victoria Street West was formerly part of the foreshore of the Auckland waterfront. Victoria Park was the site of Freemans Bay, which was in-filled during the 19th century. The vent of the Albert Park Volcano was located at the modern location of the Victoria Street Carpark, which was quarried during the 1860s.{{Cite book| first1=Bruce W. |last1=Hayward |author-link1=Bruce W. Hayward |title = Volcanoes of Auckland: a Field Guide | publisher = Auckland University Press |isbn= 978-0-582-71784-8 |chapter=Volcanoes of central Auckland |pages=212–327 |year=2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/heritage-walks-places/Documents/auckland-city-heritage-walks.pdf |title=Auckland City Heritage Walks |publisher=Auckland City Council |access-date=23 February 2023}}
Victoria Street was the location of the first jail and courthouse in Auckland.{{citeq|Q116870435|page=26-27}} The large block to the south-west of the Queen Street intersection included the courthouse, labour yards and gallows. Development of Victoria Street came later than early Auckland streets, which were focused on the waterfront to the north.
By the 1880s, the Victoria and Queen Street intersection had become one of the busiest locations in Auckland.
In 2024, Te Waihorotiu railway station is planned to open on Victoria Street.{{cite news|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/06/the-sorry-state-of-auckland-cbd-and-the-plan-to-bounce-back-as-international-tourists-return.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620170433/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/06/the-sorry-state-of-auckland-cbd-and-the-plan-to-bounce-back-as-international-tourists-return.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2022 |title=The sorry state of Auckland CBD - and the plan to bounce back as international tourists return |date=19 June 2022 |first=Rachel |last=Sadler |website=Newshub |access-date=23 February 2023}} Currently Te Hā Noa, a linear park for pedestrians and cyclists is under construction between Federal Street and Kitchener Street.{{cite web|url=https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2022/09/22/midtown-streets-regeneration-starting-soon/ |title=Midtown Streets Regeneration starting soon |date=22 September 2022 |first=Matt |last=Lowrie |website=Greater Auckland |access-date=23 February 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://progressakl.co.nz/projects/te-ha-noa-victoria-street-project/ |title=Te Hā Noa Victoria Street Project |website=Progress Auckland|publisher=Auckland Council |access-date=23 February 2023}}
Notable locations
- Farmers Queen Street, a historic department store and the former location of a Santa Claus sculpture, which was annually attached to the building from 1998 until 2020.{{cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/aucklands-giant-santa |title=Auckland's giant Santa |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=19 November 2020 |access-date=23 February 2023}}
- The Sky Tower, the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere, and the SkyCity Auckland entertainment complex
- Victoria Park, a major park constructed by reclaiming Freemans Bay, a former bay of the Auckland waterfront
- Victoria Park Market, a historic market and retail precinct opposite Victoria Park
Gallery
01 Auckland New Zealand-1000133.jpg|The AA Centre and the Sky Tower, seen from Victoria Street
File:Queen Victoria Barnes Dance 231.JPG|Intersection of Victoria Street and Queen Street
File:Panorama of Auckland (4749714165).jpg|Victoria Park Market and Victoria Park in the early 20th century