The first settlers to come to the area were from Pollokshaws near Glasgow. They arrived on the HMS Ganges on the 22nd of June 1863. The Vessel carried 226 passengers and made the trip to Auckland in 3 ½ months from Scotland. The Awhitu peninsular was a sight that would depress the spirits of even the hardiest pioneer, and the people of Pollokshaws had expected land similar to the rolling hills they had left, many despaired at first sight of the land for the task before them was great. Life in the settlement was very hard and many settlers gave up in despair selling their land as cheap as sixpence an acre and moving to Auckland. Those that remained, independent and proud gradually succeeded in breaking in the land. By 1874 majority of the area surrounding Pollok had been settled with a church, school and town hall established by the settlers. To this day, Pollok is still a quiet, small settlement that still has its resemblance it did when the original Settlers arrived.