sir john’s gift to
new zealand
About
sir john logan campbell gifted cornwall park
to new zealand in 1901.
Sir John Logan Campbell's wish was that the park be free for every New Zealander to enjoy, forever.
Today, the Cornwall Park Trust Board, who manages and operates Cornwall Park, continues to honour his wish. Cornwall Park is for you — and all New Zealanders — to enjoy and experience nature in the heart of Aotearoa New Zealand’s biggest city, for free.
It is more than just a park — it is 425 acres (172 hectares) of Aotearoa New Zealand’s living history, weaving together our heritage, ecology, agriculture, wildlife, mauri, and community within its lush landscape.
Our Founder
sir john logan campbell
Sir John Logan Campbell was a philanthropically-minded businessman, one of the first European settlers to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, and the founder of Cornwall Park. Along with his business partner William Brown, Sir John bought Cornwall Park — then known as Mt Prospect Estate — in 1853, renaming it One Tree Hill Estate. Due to his love for this land and its history, he gifted it to Aotearoa New Zealand by placing it into a trust that would establish and manage it as a park for future generations to enjoy. His gift went further — to ensure Cornwall Park would always be free for people to enjoy, he gifted the surrounding land to fund it. In 1901 this land became ‘Cornwall Park’ in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York who were visiting Aotearoa New Zealand at that time.
Our Neighbour
maungakiekie
one tree hill
Cornwall Park wraps around Maungakiekie One Tree Hill Domain. Although their beginnings were as the same land, today Maungakiekie One Tree Hill Domain is Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective land and is jointly governed by Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau and Auckland Council as the Tūpuna Maunga Authority. Cornwall Park is however private land, managed by a trust. The exception is the obelisk at the top of Maungakiekie. It was Sir John’s wish for the obelisk to be installed to honour Māori, with Sir John himself now buried alongside.
Visit Auckland Council’s website or www.maunga.nz for more information on Maungakiekie One Tree Hill Domain or call Auckland Council on 09 301 0101 for any enquiries.
Our Heritage
cornwall park's history
Cornwall Park has a rich history for you to discover dating back hundreds of years. Delve into our memories and stories while creating your own history every time you visit the park.
Our People
cornwall park
trust board
Cornwall Park is managed by an experienced and passionate team responsible for the day-to-day, season-to-season management, care and planning of Cornwall Park. Our volunteer Board of Trustees — John Duncan, Adrienne Young-Cooper, Keith Smith and Alastair Carruthers — are committed to continuing Sir John’s legacy of creating a park that all New Zealanders can enjoy and implementing a vision for generations to come.
Sir John's philanthropy
our giving
Sir John Logan Campbell’s Residuary Estate is held in trust in perpetuity to distribute its income each year as directed by Sir John’s will.
Sir John Logan Campbell supported many charities and institutions in his lifetime and his Residuary Estate continues this legacy to this day, distributing grants annually.
recognition of our heritage
UNESCO
memory of the world
Important papers belonging to Sir John Logan Campbell were inscripted onto the UNESCO Memory of the World Aotearoa New Zealand documentary heritage register in 2016, the highest-level recognition worldwide for archives and documentary heritage.
UNESCO's recognition draws attention to the significance of documentary heritage and the institutions that are their custodians. Inscription on the register raises awareness of the custodian’s institutions and helps ensure the inscribed items are protected, preserved and accessible.
Sir John was a diligent preserver of documents, which bear upon the story of his life and that of Auckland. These papers along with those of the Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate are in the Auckland War Memorial Museum and remain a treasured part of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s cultural heritage because of their diverse scope and rich historical worth.