Robin Hyde’s Auckland: an audiovisual essay.
A deep dive into the life of Robin Hyde, aka Iris Wilkinson, exploring her contribution to New Zealand literature, her travels, motherhood and her life in Auckland, including her relationships, homes, and the time she spent in Whau Lunatic Asylum (later Carrington Hospital and now the Unitec campus).
Hyde’s story is told by author Paula Morris, with archival photographs curated by Haru Sameshima. In 2020 the two worked together to produce the book Shining Land: Looking for Robin Hyde.
Experience the slide show with audio here:
We apologise for the slightly distorted audio quality of this item.
Image credits and sources:
Slide 1: Edward Doube, ca 1937. Conductor and driver standing next to tram 209 on the Avondale. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1683-126)
Slide 2: Unidentified photographer, 1932. Portrait of Robin Hyde as lady editor of the New Zealand Observer. (NZEPC /Robin Hyde/ Gallery)
Slide 5: Penciled draft on the back of menu of Spotted Dog cafe, 1934. Small Press Collection at the University of Auckland Library. (NZEPC /Robin Hyde/ archive)
Slide 8: New Zealand Observer, 1931. (Auckland Library Research Centre – microfilm archives)
Slide 9: Robin Hyde with her son Derek Challis at Palmerston North, 1931. (NZEPC/ Robin Hyde/ Gallery)
Slide 11: Unidentified photographer, 1940s (?). Princes Street. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1370-33-15)
Slide 12: Unidentified photographer, nd. Showing Princes Street, Albert Park, and buildings of the Auckland University. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 599-6)
Slide 14: Leo White, 1930s. View of Auckland University from Albert Park. (Whites Aviation Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library WA-09935-G)
Slide 15: Henry Winkelmann, 1923. Partington's Mill, Mill Lane, Auckland. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1-W0413)
Slide 16: Unidentified photographer, 1930s. View of Queen Street. (Ref: 1/2-071821-F. Alexander Turnbull Library)
Unidentified photographer. 1930s. Queen Street, Auckland. Shows the Civic Theatre and the Town Hall. (Ref: 1/2-071815-F. Alexander Turnbull Library)
Slide 17: Unidentified photographer, late 1930s. Karangahape Road, Auckland city. (Ref: 1/2-071823-F. Alexander Turnbull Library)
Laurence George Malvern, 1933. Laurie Paddi's band at Peter Pan Cabaret, Auckland. (Ref: PA1-q-182-02-1. Alexander Turnbull Library)
Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 981, 26 May 1930, Page 17 (Papers Past)
Slide 18: James D Richardson, 22 Jan 1928. Looking south west up the west side of Queen Street. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 4-1917)
New Zealand Herald - unidentified photographer. Looking south along Commerce Street towards Customs Street East. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1370-657-02)
Slide 19: Unidentified photographer, 26 Feb 1964. Greys Avenue and Yelverton Terrace, showing Golden Dragon Cafe, Auckland Chinese Masonic Society. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 7-A1055)
Unidentified photographer, 1940s. A view of Greys Avenue during the 1940s. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Footprints 02487)
James D Richardson, 7 Oct 1925. Looking west along Yelverton Terrace from Grey Street (Greys Avenue). (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 4-2030)
James D Richardson, 1928. Looking south west from the top of the Salvation Army Congress Hall along Greys Avenue. (Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-2321)
Slide 20: The Doss House, Drifter, 4 February1928, 2. (Auckland City Mission and the Poor in Auckland by Peter Lineham Dec 10, 2019, Auckland History Initiative https://ahi.auckland.ac.nz/2019/12/10/auckland-city-mission-and-the-poor-in-auckland/)
The Clothes Stall, Drifter, 28 January 1928, 3. (Auckland City Mission and the Poor in Auckland by Peter Lineham Dec 10, 2019, Auckland History Initiative https://ahi.auckland.ac.nz/2019/12/10/auckland-city-mission-and-the-poor-in-auckland/)
Slide 21: Unidentified photographer, 1921 Looking west over farmland, now Carlaw Park. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 7-A13262)
Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 933, 28 March 1930, Page 16. MAORI LAND LITIGATION. “The Maoris of Orakei village (shown above) are claiming ‘Papakainga’— the site of their homes and church from the Crown. An involved inquiry was begun in the Supreme Court yesterday. Many questions, including the laws pf tapu, have been raised.” (Papers Past)
Unidentified photographer, January 1932. Bach at Castor Bay. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections T6018)
Unidentified photographer, 1930s A crowded Milford Beach looking north towards Castor Bay. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections T2821)
Unidentified photographer, 1927. Head and shoulders portrait of Frank Sargeson. (Ref: 1/2-079007-F. Alexander Turnbull Library)
Lady Ottoline Morell, 1930. Walter D'Arcy Cresswell (1896-1960) in late 1930, 10 Gower Street Gardens, London. (National Portrait Gallery Photographs Collection NPG Ax143295)
Unidentified photographer, 1938. Labour’s John A. Lee. ('John A Lee in 1938', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/john-lee-1938, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 11-Jun-2014)
Slide 22: James D Richardson, 19 August 1931. Looking north showing Auckland Hospital (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 4-7698)
Unidentified photographer, nd. Avondale Asylum, Auckland. (Ref: 1/2-002564-F. Alexander Turnbull Library)
Slide 23: New Zealand Observer 1931 (Auckland Library Research Centre – microfilm archives)
Slide 24: Frederick William Young , 12 Apr 1929. Reverend Jasper Cyril Austin Calder, photographed for Free Lance. (Ref: PAColl-9531-04. Alexander Turnbull Library)
Unidentified photographer, nd. Mt Eden Prison. (Economic boost from 19th century icon, By Tim Ingleton - 1 August 2011, Build 125)
Slide 26: Evening Post (1865-2002) Soup kitchen, Wellington. (Ref: EP-8645B-1/2-F. Alexander Turnbull Library)
Staff photographer, Auckland Weekly News, 29 June 1932. Scenes at the headquarters of the Auckland Unemployed Women's Emergency Committee in Newton East School. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, AWNS-19320629-48-4.)
Slide 27: Tudor Washington Collins, 1932. Queen Street riot. Crowds gathered on the streets. (Auckland War Memorial Museum PH-NEG-C17682)
Tudor Washington Collins, 1932. Queen Street riot. Pickets on duty outside a looted tobacconists' premises at entrance to His Majesty's Arcade. (Auckland War Memorial Museum copy neg. C17681.)
Supplement to the Auckland Weekly News, 20 April 1932 p046. A LEADER ADDRESSING THE DEMONSTRATORS. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19320420-46-2)
Auckland Star, 1932. James Henry Edwards arrested in Norfolk Street. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 7-A13843)
Slide 28: James D Richardson, 8 March 1931. Looking south east by south from Queens Wharf. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 4-7849)
Slide 34: Frank and Audrey Douglas Mill, ca 1930 Aerial view of the Auckland Mental Hospital, Point Chevalier, ca 1930. (Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0515-G)
Slide 42: Penny Vernon, 1984. Dereck Challis, Lynn Challis and Jean Sweetman, Wife of Hardy, Harry Sweetman’s brother. (Private collection)