Barbara Smith, one of our members, former president and current almoner gave a fascinating presentation on Edward Costley (1794-1883). Edward immigrated from Ireland and little is known about his life. He made a fortune by investing in land on the then outskirts of early Auckland. On his death he was found to have amassed £93,000, the equivalent today would be over $20 million!

In his will he bequeathed his money to several different Auckland institutions including a Training School for Boys in Grey Lynn, a property now owned by the Tongan church; a Sailors’ Home on the corner of Albert and Queen streets; the St Stephen’s Orphanage in Parnell, later moved to Papatoetoe; the Auckland Institute in Princes St, which later joined with the Auckland museum, and the Costley Home at Green Lane.

The Costley Home for Older Poor had several dormitories and a chapel and was built on 21 acres of land. It had a venerable history including having many TB shelters built around it during the TB epidemic of the early twentieth century. In 1924 its name was changed to Auckland Infirmary.

A Cardio- thoracic unit was started there in the 1930s and in 1942 it was renamed Green Lane hospital. Little remains now of the Costley origins although some signs lingered on wards for many years. There is a small monument to Edward Costley in Auckland hospital grounds facing Starship Hospital. Edward Costley’s grave is in the Symonds St cemetery.

This meeting was held as a Zoom session.