2.5 million years ago, lava flowed from Waipouri Mt Horrible down to what is now the shore of Timaru. Basalt Rock was quarried from Centennial Park and many other sites for construction of buildings, bridges, monuments, construction of the harbour and for coastal erosion protection.

The land for Centennial Park was given to the city by the late George Bowker and the Timaru Harbour Board to commemorate the centennial of New Zealand in 1840. This gateway was erected by the City Council to commemorate the gifts.