West Auckland Historical Society

The West Auckland Historical Society, founded in 1977, is based at Henderson's Mill Cottage — a historic site gifted to Waitakere City Council in 1993. The heritage centre holds archives of books, photographs, oral histories, objects and research files documenting the area west of the Whau River, from New Lynn to Te Henga (Bethells Beach) and north to Hobsonville and Whenuapai. A permanent exhibition on the region's kauri timber industry, including a working model driving dam, is on display. The Society also runs a Family History Group, monthly heritage talks, and school and group tours by arrangement.