Opened in 1888, the Calliope graving dock on Auckland’s North Shore, is one of New Zealand’s oldest and most significant maritime structures. It is still in use today.
A graving dock, or dry dock, is a dock which, once a ship has entered, is then closed to the sea and pumped dry while the ship remains supported by timber bearers under the keel and props along the ship’s sides. To ‘grave’ is to clean a ship’s hull below the waterline. Today, cleaning and maintenance of large vessels is more commonly undertaken on slipways.
Auckland’s first graving dock
Before the construction of the Calliope Dock, a smaller graving dock served the port of Auckland. It was located on the city side of the harbour, just west of Queen Street.
By 1876 the Auckland Harbour Board had decided that a dry dock was needed. Mr Errington, the engineer who designed the Western Springs Water Supply Pumping Station, was contracted to complete the design.
Construction began in 1876. Initially the stone for the dock came from Melbourne but after criticism from the public, local stone was tried. However, the local quarries couldn’t match the required demand rate and so, once more, Melbourne stone was used. The dock was finally handed over to the Auckland Harbour Board in August 1878, two years four months after construction began.
The dimensions of the dock were 90m long, 20m wide and 4m below Mean Low Water. The entrance to the dock was closed using a sliding iron caisson which could be floated into position and then sunk. The water below the Low Water level was then pumped out using steam driven pumps.
Even during construction some members of the public were arguing that the dock was too short, too shallow and in the wrong position. This criticism proved to be correct and within a few years Mr. Errington’s services were again employed in designing a new dry dock, this time at Calliope Point on the North Shore.
Following the opening of the Calliope dock, the original dock continued to be used for smaller shipping and as a venue for swimming sports. It then closed in 1915 following the completion of a slipway at Freemans Bay. Despite opposition from the New Zealand Shipowners' Federation, the old dock was deconstructed and infilled.
The approximately 4,000 stone blocks lining the dock were carefully removed, numbered and placed in storage should it be decided to re-erect the dock in a new location. The Auckland Harbour Board later decided to sell the stone but could not find a buyer. In 1920 the stone was used in the construction of the shore end of the eastern reclamation of Freemans Bay. Today, the original shoreline of the bay and location of the slipway have complexly disappeared following further reclamation and are now the site of Victoria Park.
Auckland Graving Dock with the Margaret Galbraith on the stocks. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. Reference: SGGSC 4-945.
The start for the final of the 50yds electric dash handicap. Auckland Weekly News, 2 April 1903. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19030402-01-03.
Calliope Dock
Work began on Calliope dock in December 1884.The dock takes its name from Calliope Point from which it was excavated. The point was named after the Calliope, a warship which had visited New Zealand in 1846. The site was chosen for its deep water, sheltered position and proximity to the port and city centre.
Excavation for the dock was by hand. Three hundred labourers were employed. The structure required 1.5 million bricks and these were made locally. The cement used in the concrete came from England in barrels.
Upon opening, the dock was the largest in the southern hemisphere. It measured 500 feet (152m) in length, and was 40 feet (12m) wide on the floor and 110 feet (34m) wide at ground level.
The pumps for removing the water, like those of the previous dock, were steam driven, as were the winches and crane. The pumps were built by British company, James Watt and Co. They had double-acting, vertical single-cylinders with a 48-inch cylinder bore and a five-foot stroke. They ran at 12 to 20 strokes per minute and could empty the dock from high water in 4 ½ hours. The keel blocks, to keep ships safely in position after the water had been drained were made of pōhutukawa.
The dock was officially opened in February 1888 with HMS Calliope and HMS Diamond both entering it with full pomp and ceremony. A public holiday was declared in Auckland to allow the community to “celebrate the event with spirit.”
Calliope Dock, Devonport under construction, 1887. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. Reference: SGGSC4-3144
Opening of the Calliope Dock, 16 Feb 1888. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. Reference: SGGSC 4-2940
Maintenance and expansion
By 1899 the dock and associated wharf were in need of considerable maintenance and were under-used. The navy and shipping companies considered the workshop facilities to be inadequate and were going elsewhere. The Auckland Harbour Board negotiated a deal with the Royal Navy where the navy would pay an annual subsidy on the condition that they had first call on the facilities. In return the Board would upgrade and maintain the workshop facilities, upgrade the dock and associated wharf and provide 0.8ha (2 acres) of rent-free reclaimed land alongside the dock.
After World War I the navy expanded its facilities in this area. By 1934 the Auckland Harbour Board had installed a mobile crane and workshops for engineers, carpenters, blacksmiths and painters. Garage, storage sheds, office and caretaker’s house were also provided. In 1935 the dock was lengthened once again, to 185 metres, at the navy’s request to accommodate two larger cruisers which had been ordered. The Royal New Zealand Navy paid for this extension.
With the outbreak of World War II, particularly following Japan’s entry into the war, the dock became a strategic asset. In 1943 it was lengthened again, this time to accommodate American heavy cruisers.
Eventually on 26 February 1987 the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) bought the dock from the Harbour Board for $650,000.
In August 1994 the RNZN leased the dock to Babcock-Skellerup, now Babcock NZ, who are contracted to provide engineering services to the navy. In 1996 further modifications were completed to accommodate ANZAC class frigates, this included new pumping arrangements, a new cassion and extending the depth of the rudder and sonar pits.
The Calliope dock continues to be an important facility used for both naval and commercial repairs. It has been used to refit ANZAC-class frigates, and in 2024, serviced NIWA’s research vessel, the RV Tangaroa.
Pump house
The pump house building that housed Calliope dock’s original pumping equipment is still in use and has significant heritage value. The building was assessed as potentially earthquake prone in 2013 and was strengthened in 2018. Epoxy-embedded carbon fibre rods were inserted in the walls, and concealed plywood diaphragms fixed within the roof and below the flooring. This solution improved the building’s seismic rating without compromising the original look of the building.
More information
NZ Defence Force – watch the HMNZS Te Kaha Dry Docking November 2015
Heritage recognition
Calliope Dock is listed on the Auckland Council Unitary Plan Heritage Schedule.
Calliope Dock has Category A NZDF Heritage classification
New Zealand Archaeological Association
The Old Graving Dock is in the New Zealand Archaeological Association Site Record as site R11/3458
The Calliope Dock is in the New Zealand Archaeological Association Site Record as site R11/1454
The Pump house building is in the New Zealand Archaeological Association Site Record as site R11/3421
See ARCHSITE
