The historic, Heritage Listed 1875 Hobsonville Church & Settlers' Cemetery is at 1 Scott Road, Hobsonville, Auckland.
The Church building and early European Hobsonville settlers' graveyard are on The New Zealand Heritage List / Rārangi Kōrero List Number 9796.
The Church and Cemetery are held in trust by the Hobsonville Church & Settlers Cemetery Preservation Society Incorporated, a registered charity and incorporated society. The Church building is available for hire to everyone in our community. The graveyard remains open for burials of descendants of the early Hobsonville settler families. We are a group of volunteers - many of us descendants of those early families - who continue to care for this place as our families have done for generations.
Many of us have ancestors buried here, are related or connected in some way, and have ties to Hobsonville School across multiple generations.
Contact Us
Get in touch here
Our email: hobsonvillesettlerschurch@gmail.com
Chair & Co-Sexton Jason Midgley 021 565 111 Secretary & Treasurer Angela Laurenson 021 060 1411Weddings & Bookings Co-ordinator Leanne Midgley 021 688 164
Committee MembersDarren Midgley 029 234 3705Stuart Ogilvie Kohl Midgley 021 156 4666 & Co-Sexton
Left to Right: Darren Midgley, Angela Laurenson, Stuart Ogilvie, Jason Midgley, Hon Cameron Brewer MP, Kohl MidgleyAbsent: Leanne Midgley
Hobsonville’s Evolving Landscape Hobsonville Church & Settlers’ Cemetery provides a tangible link to the community’s earliest European settlers and the legacy they left behind. What was once pastoral farmland has gradually transformed into one of Auckland’s fastest‑growing suburbs, yet the Church and graveyard remain a quiet, enduring anchor to the area’s beginnings. Early Family Names in Today’s LandscapeMany of the early settler families are remembered not only within the graveyard but also throughout the modern suburb. Their names live on in street signs, parks, reserves, and local landmarks, including: Boyds Bridge Ockleston LandingClark Road Ockleston Landing Pocket ParkClark House “Ngaroma” Sager Midgley Road Dorricott Avenue Scott Road Gunn Way Scott Reserve Joshua Carder Drive Sinton Road Laurenson Road Vazey Way Luckens Road Williams Road Midgley Road Wiseley Road Neils Andersen Road Wiseley ReserveNgaroma House Drive
These names serve as everyday reminders of the families who shaped Hobsonville’s early identity and whose stories continue to be woven into the fabric of the community.
Hobsonville’s Early Road LayoutThe 1920 Hobsonville street map shows a simple network of roads: Wharf Road running between the two wharves, along with Scott Road, Clark Road, Ockleston Road (now Memorial Park Road;), Pottery Lane (now Clark Lane), Sinton Road, Williams Road, Wiseley Road, and the Main Road (now Hobsonville Road). A 1929 aerial photograph by White Aviation captures this early layout and the surrounding landscape.
Visitor Information
  • The graveyard is open from dawn to dusk, and everyone is welcome to visit.

  • Dogs are prohibited in the graveyard, except for assistance dogs, or where the Society has given prior approval for a specific event (in which case dogs must be kept on a lead at all times).

  • Entry to both the Church and the graveyard is through the red entrance gates, located near the corner of Scott Road and Clark Road.

  • For safety and protection of the Church and grounds, security cameras are installed on the building and operate at night.
  • Walking Conditions
  • After rain, the Hobsonville clay can make the ground very soft and slippery.
  • Please take care when walking through the cemetery, especially around older graves and uneven areas. Parking
  • Parking is available on the surrounding streets.
  • Spaces can be limited during busy times, so please allow extra time to find parking. Useful Information
  • A water tap and hose for refilling flower vases is located on the left-hand side of the Church, beside the graveyard steps.
  • A padlocked bollard is in place at the entrance to prevent vehicles from entering the grounds.
  • Two additional service gates - one on Scott Road and one on Clark Road - are padlocked and used by gravediggers, headstone installers, and grounds maintenance teams such as lawnmowing and arborist contractors.

  • There are no outdoor rubbish bins, so please take any rubbish away with you.

  • The graveyard is overlooked on the north and east boundaries by our neighbours at Ryman’s Keith Park Village.
  • Scott Road borders the south boundary, and Clark Road borders the west.
  • Graves are aligned east–west, with feet to the east and head to the west.
  • All headstones face east - except for the Bernecker grave.
Building and roading work
There is a significant amount of building and roading work happening around the Church at the moment, so we encourage you to visit the area and make sure you’re comfortable with the current surroundings before making a booking.
Upcoming Walking and Cycling Path Improvements - June and July 2026
AT has announced that construction of the new shared walking and cycling path between Scott Road and Squadron Drive will commence in June 2026. Work will also commence on a shared pathway outside the Church on Scott Road.This project is part of a joint initiative between the Upper Harbour Local Board’s Transport Capital Fund and AT’s Walking Programme. There will be trimming of our trees above the new shared path outside the Hobsonville Church and Cemetery. No significant tree removal is proposed as part of the project.There will be P180 parking outside the Church and also Keith Park Village on Clark Road. Auckland Transport recognises the importance of short-stay parking to support community use of the Church and Cemetery. P180 parking is intended to ensure fair access for visitors attending services, funerals, weddings, and commemorations. https://haveyoursay.at.govt.nz/clarkrdsharedpath
Early History of the Church and Community
Hobsonville Church was built in 1875 by John Danby (1849–1923) as a church, school, and gathering place for the growing settlement. The one‑acre site, including the graveyard, was donated by Rice Owen Clark I (1816–1896).
At the time, Hobsonville was a thriving community of around 25–30 houses, with a mixed economy built on brickmaking, pottery production, and farming. The Church quickly became a focal point for local families.
Transfer to TrusteesFollowing the 1877 Education Act, which introduced free, secular, and compulsory education for Pākehā children, the land was transferred to five trustees - each of whom is now buried in the graveyard:
Joshua Carder (1816–1895)R.O. Clark II (1854–1905)Joshua Ockleston (1836–1896)Thomas Scott (1827–1892)William Sinton (1837–1880)
Families of the GraveyardMany early Hobsonville settler families are buried in the graveyard, including Anderson, Boyd, Bridgford, Carder, Clark, Midgley, Ockleston, Scott, Sinton, Williams, and Wiseley. Their names reflect the deep intergenerational ties that continue to shape the community today.
Hobsonville’s Pottery and Brickmaking LegacyA walk through the graveyard reveals Hobsonville’s strong connection to the brick and pottery industry. Several monuments commemorate significant ceramic manufacturers, including members of the Clark, Carder, and Vazey families. Other potters associated with the area - such as Cater, Holland, and Ockleston - are also represented, highlighting the industry’s importance to Hobsonville’s early identity.
Photo below: Hobsonville Church and School, early 1890s (exact date unknown). The white picket fences around the graves can be clearly seen.
A mural on the wall of the Hobsonville School Hall at 104 Hobsonville Road honours several of the area’s Pioneer Families. Other pioneer families represented in the graveyard include the Bridgford family. There are no Luckens buried in the graveyard.
Newsletters
Every so often we email an update about what's been happening at the Church and graveyard.May 2024 Newsletter link here. December 2022 Newsletter link here. July 2022 Newsletter link here. December 2021 Newsletter link here.
Connect With Us on Facebook
Our Facebook page is where we share updates about the Church, the graveyard, and the surrounding development, along with pieces of local history and stories we think our community will enjoy.We always welcome contributions - if you have photos, family history, or information to share, please get in touch.
Church Services
The Church is hired by two different Christian groups for their weekly services: Geneva Free Reformed Church of New ZealandService times: Sundays, 10.00am-12.00pm and 4.00pm-6.00pmContact: Richard Burdon - 021 046 8650
Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI)Service time: Sundays, 2.00pm - Catholic Mass in LatinContact: Brendan Legg - 020 4081 5966