Geography
The Rosebank Peninsula is a readily identifiable business location in the Auckland region. The Whau River and Estuary home to the victorious West End World Championship Gold Medal Rowing club forms the North Western boundary while the Waitemata Harbour and adjacent North Western motorway provides a natural geographic North Eastern boundary. Rosebank Road commencing from Mead Street is the southern most point of the business district with the Patiki Road extension to the North Western motorway completing the northern point.

Land
The Rosebank Business District comprises a land area of some 193.7 ha (approx 480 acres) and was initially the home to produce growers following the two world wars. Such was the quality of the land, stemming from alluvial sand and river flats, that agricultural production was lucrative.

One of the area’s foremost produce growing families, the Dan Connell family, still has representatives in the area with son Bob Connell still living in his original family home at Rosebank Road. Interestingly it was the Dan Connell family and Ted Copsey who persuaded Harvey Turner from Turners & Growers to introduce the current auction system for selling produce back in the 1920’s. This was the forerunner for establishing the city markets for companies such as Turners, Radley and Co, Perkins and JJ Jones.

During the late 1950’s it was the transportation of this produce from Rosebank and Avondale that provided opportunities for founding transportation businesses in the area. Logistics and transportation have always and no doubt will always be a major focus of activity for the area.

Transport
It is important that future transportation plans address the immediate needs of the area. Having Rosebank Road designated an arterial road was acceptable and understandable when introduced as a feeder road for Avondale, New Lynn, Blockhouse Bay and Titirangi residents to access more quickly the North Western motorway.

That use however has passed its use- by- date as the redevelopment of land and older buildings has created rapid growth in employment numbers.

It is now critical that the ratepayers, workers and motorists of Rosebank who work in the immediate vicinity are supported - not temporary visitors who utilise Rosebank Road as a thoroughfare.

The Rosebank Peninsular, with its close proximity to the Auckland Port, its continuing redevelopment of land and buildings (with some spectacular views) and excellent motorway access, has become a much sought after commercial and industrial business precinct.