Oratia is located approximately 16 km south west of Auckland’s CBD, and sits at the eastern edge of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage area. It is a relatively quiet community bridging metropolitan Auckland with the wild forests and beaches of western Auckland giving it a semi-rural feel.
Oratia was first settled in the 1860s, with 40-acre (160,000 m2) land parcels granted to new immigrants. Cochrane’s orchard was possibly the earliest orchard in the area dating back to this time, although it no longer exists.
Sunnydale in Parker Road is the oldest surviving residence in West Auckland built around 1860 from Kauri timber milled on the site.
Oratia Cemetery has burial sites dating from 1867 onwards. The gateway entrance was built in 1935. Its Category II listing is attributed to historical and visual significance.
The Oratia Valley was settled by Dalmatian migrants in the late 1890s and early 1900s. They planted orchards and vineyards, leading to Oratia becoming known as the fruit bowl of Auckland. A strong sense of community developed which continues today, although some of the old families have moved out of the area. Many of Oratia’s roads are named after the families who lived in Oratia
in the 1800s, e.g. Parker, Carter, Shaw, Parr.
Many of the original orchards have now disappeared, and although still relatively sparsely populated compared to most of metropolitan Auckland, Oratia has developed into a
community with many businesses and homes.
