ISBN10: 0473111020, ISBN13: 9780473111021, [publisher: Epsom & Eden District Historical Society] Hardcover 468 pages. Epsom, lying in the centre of the Tamaki isthmus, is one of Auckland's oldest suburbs. Being enclosed by volcanic m ountains, its strategic location and rich soil made it much prize d by the pre-European Maori. After Auckland's selection as the ca pital of the new British colony in 1840 both arable and pastoral farms starting dotting its landscape and it became the settlement 's leading breadbasket. Rural Epsom prospered mightily, but its c lose proximity to the developing central city eventually made it a target for suburbanization. At first there was a growing presen ce of elite farmlets, but in the space of just 30 years (1900-30) Epsom's agricultural past was almost completely obliterated. In its conversion from farmsteads to family dwellings and more recen tly, town-houses, Epsom has become no mere dormitory suburb. Its has notable medical and educational faces and proudly claims thre e of Auckland's greatest communal assets - Alexandra Park, the Au ckland Showgrounds and Sir John Logan Campbell's Cornwall Park. D espite its intriguing history, Epsom's story missed being recorde d, and The History of Epsom makes handsome amends for this omissi on. It contains almost 400 illustrations, a dozen informative map s, very extensive references, an appendix of street names and ori gins, and an exhaustive index. The p ...

ISBN10: 0473111020, ISBN13: 9780473111021, [publisher: Epsom & Eden District Historical Society] Hardcover Out of print, advised Oct 2006. An invaluable source of information about Epsom's fascinating past. This is a full-scale, reputable and lavishly-illustrated history, with the basic research being undertaken by a wide number and range of interested local enthusiasts. There are over 250 entries, some 400 illustrations and 110 biographies of prominent 'Epsomites". There are extensive references and an exhaustive index.
[Auckland, AUCKL, New Zealand]