The Sylvia Park
name is rich in history, stemming from the historical
associations relating to the area. Initially a focus of
settlement by Maori for hundreds of years, the site reflects the
migrations, conquests and occupations that have taken place over
the centuries. In 1836 an estimated 40,000 acres, known as
Fairburn’s Block, was purchased by the Church Missionary Society
from the local Iwi. In 1838 James Hamlin purchased land
adjoining Fairburn’s Block to the north and called his property
Waipuna Farm. Hamlin received legal confirmation of his lands in
1860 and subdivided the Waipuna property between his 12
children.
The area encompassing
the project and environs is now known as Sylvia Park. It has long
been known as this name and stemmed from a highly successful stud
farm which developed nearby within Hamlin’s property Waipuna
Farm.
The Sylvia Park Stud
Farm was established in 1882 by the Auckland Stud Company. That
same year saw the stud produce a Melbourne Cup winner,
“Martini-Henry” out of the mare Sylvia, hence the name “Sylvia
Park”. The most famous racehorse to come out of Sylvia Park and
ever bred in the southern hemisphere was “Carbine”.
He carried the greatest winning weight ever (66kgs) in the
largest field ever (39 starters) when he won the 1890 Melbourne
Cup. He won 33 of his 43 races. Carbine was born on the Sylvia
Park Stud Farm in 1885 and is remembered in the name Carbine
Road which forms part of the eastern boundary of the Sylvia Park
property.
Photo
from Thoroughbred Heritage.com
53 years after
'Carbine' won the Melbourne Cup, the land then owned by the New
Zealand Government, was used during the war for US Armed Forces
stores...
50 years on from that
Auckland now has New Zealand's biggest shopping
centre...
Everything you need
to find this cache is around this new shopping centre. It's just a
matter of walking around until you find the right objects. We're
not going to give you any hints on where to find them, it's all up
to your powers of observation! You will need to
find.....
Once you find all the
objects you'll need to do a bit of maths....
S = 36°
54. ((Total Eels - Total coloured panels)
x 5 ) + letters in the mare's name
E = 174° 50.
Lime panels x (Total Grasses -
((orange + red panels) / 2 ))
The terrain rating is only set as the distance to travel could be
rather large to finish this cache. But it can all be accessed in a
wheel chair.
Note : Pick your
visit time as you may not be able to access all WP's 24/7, and if
you look hard enough you will also find FREE wi-fi access. He's a
Geochecker if you do 
In keeping with the
Difficulty rating there are no hints, however should your
frustration levels become a health risk feel free to email
us.