Morningside Tavern is a popular local tavern opened in 2018 in Morningside, four kilometres south-west of Auckland’s city centre.
Famed for our industrial fit out, craft beers and uncomplicated pub food, Morningside Tavern is a popular catch-up place for locals and those from the surrounding suburbs seeking an informal meeting spot or afterwork brew.
The Tavern is named for the founders of the area, influential and prominent landowners Allan Kerr Taylor and his wife Sophia Kerr Taylor. Morningside formed part of an extensive estate acquired by the Taylors between 1849 and 1854.
Allan Kerr Taylor’s story is one of an audacious, ambitious youth who showed extraordinary persistence in the face of strong doubt among his inner circle about the land he had bought.
The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography tells us Allan Kerr Taylor was born in India in 1832 and schooled in Edinburgh, Scotland.
In 1848 he emigrated to New Zealand where his father had bought land at West Tāmaki, near Auckland.
With abundant opportunities in the expanding colonies, Allan’s father gave each of his four sons money and sent them off to New Zealand in invest in land.
Allan’s older brothers bought farmland in Auckland’s East – Glen Innes, Glen Dowie and Glen Orchard (now St Heliers).
Aged 16 years old Allan bought his first 270 acres “Alberton” on the northern slopes of Mt Albert. Allan was told he was crazy to invest in the rock-strewn, swampy land that he later developed into the industrious suburb of Morningside.
“Allan, at the age of 16, bought 270 acres at Mount Albert and subsequently added two adjoining blocks of 232 acres and 120 acres. He called the property Alberton. Parts were profitably subdivided in the 1860s, but it remained an unusually large holding so close to Auckland city.”
The rocky, volcanic land was indeed unproductive, the surrounding areas prone to flood.
Determined to prove that fortune favours the brave, though, Allan expanded his property to 500 acres, investing in timber. He was active in his community, being elected councilman and chairman and forging rail and roads through the area. In 1865, he successfully subdivided and sold his first 120 villa lots, officially naming the popular suburb Morningside.
Sadly Taylor’s first wife Martha had died in 1864. In 1865 Taylor married Sophia Louisa Davis, a staunch feminist, suffragette and market farmer known for her produce and prized poultry. They had 10 children: six daughters and four sons. They were an industrious and influential couple, the Dictionary notes.
The DNZ Biography notes Allan Kerr Taylor lived on his estate with all the pretensions of a local squire.
“He was active in many local organisations: trustee of the Mount Albert Highway District, chairman of the Eden County Council, a member of the Auckland Provincial Council, a justice of the peace, president of the Auckland Racing Club and a closely involved churchman and member of the Anglican diocesan synod. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in 1876.”
Allan Kerr Taylor died in Auckland on 14 April 1890. His funeral was a major event.
“Allan Kerr Taylor’s funeral demonstrated his standing in the community,” the Dictionary tells us. “People on foot and more than 30 carriages (including the carriage of the governor Lord Onslow, made their way down the long avenue to St Luke’s Church, which he had so generously supported.
“Between the avenue and the church, villas flew flags at half-mast while the church bell tolled at intervals. He was laid to rest in the churchyard in the presence of his wife and family. The monument over the grave and the stained-glass memorial windows in the church, like the big house on the hill, attest to the family’s importance in the settlement of a significant part of Auckland.”
Today Taylor is honoured with a large mural on the wall depicting his face and the words “You’ve got or be mad”, referencing the comments people made when he bought the land in the area.
The mural is made of denim, honouring the building’s former life as a denim factory.
Morningside Tavern is not only famous for its history and atmosphere but also for its food. The menu is a mix of wood-fired pizzas, beer-friendly nibbles, and meat dishes. The tavern’s food is known for being delicious and honest, which is why it is a favourite among locals and visitors alike.
With an outdoor courtyard that’s perfect for warmer days and an open layout inside, we’re the home for any occasion, from weekday lunches to family get-togethers over the weekend.
Come for an ice-cold brew with choice from 20 different beers on tap and stay for the mouthwatering menu, one that’s fit for the whole family.
Come in soon and say hello.
