Thomas Cheeseman

On the evening of 22^nd September 2010, Dr Brian Gill, a curator at Auckland Museum, gave a talk on former Remuera resident Thomas Cheeseman.

Thomas Cheeseman (1845-1923) was a notable botanist and expert on New Zealand native flora. He was the curator of the Auckland Museum from 1874 to 1923, when it was located in Princes Street in the city. The Cheeseman family lived in a large, gracious home, Maranui (now demolished), on the corner of Benson and Upland Roads. Maranui was famous for its subtropical gardens and orchard over several acres fronting Upland Road, Orakei Road, and Benson Road. The property was divided into 90 building plots in 1911. There are still some interesting exotic trees remaining on the property.