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New: 1930s Street Name Origins and listings of Extreme Weather Events and Wainuiomata Town Extensions

Features:
Wainuiomata School Centennial Jubilee 1857-1957 - Digitised Booklet (7MB)

Historical Tour of Wainuiomata Many towns have walking tours to show visitors the local historical sites. There are many of these in Wainuiomata, and people do not realise just how old some of these are. For instance, the first school was built 20 years before the one in Petone. Similarly, the first church in Petone was built over 20 years later than the one in Wainuiomata. The problem is that at 73% of the land area of Hutt City, Wainuiomata is too big to walk between many of the points of interest. So, let your mouse do the walking on this virtual tour. You may want to visit some of the sites in person.

See the Wainuiomata Little Theatre website to view copies of programmes from 1956 - under the "Shows" tab.

Timeline

One Source: A Chronology of the Tararua and Rimutaka Ranges by R. A. Kerr (1977)

1800s Maori Orongorongo Trails
[1] Over Pakuratahi stream, up Rimutaka stream, over road saddle to Wairarapa, via Abbotts stream
[2] Up Wairongomai River, then its south branch, Wairongomai saddle, then to Wainui or Orongorongo Rivers
[3] From Wairarapa around coast and Cape Turakirae to Petone

1839 Sep Dr Ernst Dieffenbach and Charles Heaphy visit Orongorongo River, ascend part of the range and sight and shoot huias

1840 Dec 09 Ensign W. A. D. Best (80th Regiment) canoes over surf on Orongorongo bar, enters valley, reporting a kainga in disrepair at river mouth

1844 H. S. Tiffen surveyed Orongorongo and Wainuiomata Rivers boundary area
1845 F. Hunt ferried down flooded Orongorongo River on flax raft
1846 Riddiford Family establishes Orongorongo Station

1857 Wainuiomata School Teachers (1857-1964) - Wainuiomata School Centennial Jubilee 1857-1957 - Digitised Booklet (8MB)

1858 Goats first recorded in Orongorongo
1858 Mar 05 George PROUSE aged 2yrs drowned in a creek at Wainuiomata

Pre 1860s Tracks from the Eastern Hills to Wainuiomata, Orongorongos and the Wairarapa Pre 1860s by Jeremy Foster (2021)

1860 Wainuiomata hill road completed

1860 Mar 17 Wellington Militia Ballot - 200 men required - 300 names drawn. Your name having been drawn for actual service in the Militia, you are hereby commanded to attend on Friday 23rd March, instant, at 12 o clock, noon, at the lower Mount Cook Barracks, W. R. Trafford, Major Commanding. Baring Head: James Davis, pilot. Near Pencarrow Head: H. Phillips, farmer. Wainuiomata: D. Diamond, labourer; John Dick, labourer; John Grace, Esq., JP; Alfred Johnson, farmer; Robert Neil, farmer; Richard Prouse, farmer. York Bay: Thomas Crowther, tailor.

1861 The first school was built about this time
1862 First known interment at the Coast Road Church Cemetery of James Riddle
1863 Wainuiomata District residents subscribe 10 to the Lancashire Relief Fund
1865 The settlers pooled their books to form a Public Library which was established using various sites
1866 First interment at the Woodlands Farm Cemetery
1867 Sir George Grey sold the Wainuiomata Native reserves
1869 First interment at the Sinclair Family Cemetery of Catherine McIlvride

1870 Captain John Mowlem builds Northbrook
1870 Jan 01 John McIlvride is appointed Postmaster for Wainuiomata
1870 Feb 16 The proprietor of the flax mills at Wainuiomata advertises a charge for anyone wishing to employ his patent for preparing flax

1870 Sep 15 The partnership between Peter Langwill, William Alfred Fitzherbert and John Journeaux under the style or firm of Langwill, Fitzherbert & Co., Flax Manufacturers in the Wainuiomata District was dissolved by mutual consent

1871 Feb 06 Upper Wainuiomata Highway District Board of Wardens: W. Fitzherbert (Chairman), H. Sinclair, G. Allan, R. Dick, D. Sinclair, John Mowlem

1872 Mar 08 Mr Fitzherbert's flax mill was destroyed by fire. It was uninsured and the loss estimated at £3000.
1872 Sep A rope walk was put up at Wainuiomata by Mr Robert Brown
1872 Nov The enlargement of the church at Wainuiomata was sanctioned by the annual meeting of Wesleyan Ministers
1872 Nov 26 Thomas SINGLE drowned at the Mill Dam, Wainuioamta

1877 Local Government Members 1877 to 2022
1877 Oct 13 The empty home belonging to Robert Wyley burned down

1878 Start of the Wainuiomata Water Supply scheme; first School Committee elected
1878 Feb 21 The Wainuiomata Rifles hosted the Kaiwarra Volunteers in the schoolroom

1879 Jun 05 George Knight arrived in Wellington with gold found in the country somewhere back from Lowry Bay and Pencarrow Head.

1884 Telephone line established between Wainuiomata Post Office and the outside world
1884 Wainuiomata Waterworks: Quaintance/Drummond Caretakers

1885 One private telephone was connected to family members beyond the Valley
1892 Eliza Campbell nee Dick (1846-1937) of Wainuiomata signed the 1892 Suffrage Petition

Archives NZ Reference AEBE 27184 - Sheet 284 Lower Hutt (Online digital repository)

1892 Kate MAIR Exhibits Paintings of Wainuiomata Scenery

1893 Suffrage Display Panels

1893 Feb 13 Violent Earthquake - "The operator at the Wainuiomata Telephone Station rang up the town office, and was in the act of informing the operator there that they had just experienced an earthquake at the Wainui when the shock reached the head office, and swayed the building." See What is the Wainuiomata Earthquake Story?

1893 Mar 02 Among those who have passed the first section of the B.A. degree examination is Mr Andrew Nisbet Burns, who is in charge of the Wainuiomata School. He has been attending the Wellington collegiate classes for the past two years.

1893 Mar 11 Wellington Storm - Some of the Wainuiomata pipes have burst, the consequence is that Wellington, which is lighted by electricity, is up to the present left in darkness; 8.40 inches of rain fell at Wainuiomata Reservoir in 24 hours.

1893 Apr 03 Andrew Nisbet Burns, of Wainuiomata School, succeeds to the assistanship of Hutt School.
1893 Apr 19 Position for Head Teacher Wainuiomata School is advertised; average attendance 27. Salary about 140 and residence
1893 Apr 23 John McIlvride Jnr is appointed Dog Registrar for Wainuiomata Riding of Hutt County
1893 Apr 27 School Committee elected: Messrs Wakeham, Jackson (Secretary), Burdan, James Wood, R. Dick (Chairman)

1893 May 06 Arthur Nisbet Burns, lately appointed first assistant teacher at the Hutt School, was, on Wednesday, at a concert given in his honor, presented with a silver hunting watch, suitably inscribed, by the residents of Wainuiomata, at which place he has for the last two and a half years acted as school teacher. Mr R. Dick, Chairman of the School Committee, made the presentation, and with Messrs J. Wakeham and James Wood spoke eulogistically of Mr Burns' services. The recipient replied in suitable terms.

1893 Jul 11 Wanted to Know, the whereabouts of Ameen Rumanus, Assyrian hawker, left Masterton about six weeks ago for Wainuiomata.
1893 Aug 12 Eight thousand young trout were sent to Wainuiomata this morning
1893 Aug 21 Wellington Acclimatisation Society intend to obtain more black Tasmanian opossums to stock the Wainuiomata Valley
1893 Sep 15 Hares may now be killed in the Wainuiomata District.

1893 Sep 23 Mr Muter, of the Government Insurance Department, fell 22 feet down a cliff into the river. Cecil Adams pulled him out and used Sylvester's method of artificial respiration to revive him. He was carried into a whare belonging to Messrs J. E. Smith, F. Dyer, and C. P. Skerrett.

1893 Sep 29 The concert in aid of the Wainuiomata School prize-fund last Wednesday evening realised the sum of £3 7s 6d

1893 Oct 16 W. Rodney Barnes, the well-known English landscape artist leaves for Melbourne today - after thoroughly exploring the beauties of the Wainuiomata Valley.

1893 Oct 18 Mr W. Burdan donated 1 1s to the prize fund of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association.
1893 Oct 27 A. Jensen's Robin Hood, bred by H. Campbell, Wainuiomata wins 1st prize for Coaching Stallion at the Masterton Agricultural Show.
1893 Nov 11 Otaki Electorate - John Glenny Wilson invites the electors to meet him at the Wainuiomata Schoolhouse on 15 Nov at 7.30pm.

1893 Nov 15 Mr J. G. Wilson, a candidate for Otaki, addressed a meeting in the Wainuiomata Schoolroom, Mr J. Wakeham in the chair. The meeting passed a vote of thanks and confidence.

1893 Dec 21 Wellington City Council advertises for tenders for the sole right to collect Grass Seed from the Waterworks Reserve above the dam at Wainuiomata.

1894 Feb 10 Cecil Francis Adams of Wellington received a Certificate of Merit from the Royal Humane Society for rescuing Percy Mater from drowning in the Wainuiomata River

1895 Major General Somerville George Cameron HOGGE (1837-1911) has a summer residence in Wainuiomata

1897 Red deer liberated in Wainuiomata Valley
1900 Apr 10 Notice: The bridge on the north side of Mr Jackson's, at Lower Wainuiomata, is unsafe for heavy traffic.

1901 The water-race is repaired with 750mm cast-iron pipe and a Venturi meter is installed
1901 A. H. Messenger sights Huias on the Catchpool track

1902 Sep 09 Separate tenders are called for felling bush and scrubbing same in the Wainuiomata Watershed. Specifications may be seen at J. Burrow, Wainuiomata or at Messrs Young and Tripe, Solicitors, Wellington.

1904 Proposals for a new dam are considered

1907 Mar 13 The Inspector for the Hutt County Council reported that the small bridge between the river and the junction of the Moore Valley road, on the Wainuiomata road, was in a dangerous condition, and ought to be renewed.

1907 Mar Captain George ALLMAN (1850-1911) an Irish Mariner holidays in Wainuiomata

1908 James Burrow built a new school building to replace the first school building
1908 Nov Construction of the Morton Dam begins

1911 Sep Completion of Morton Dam
1913 Red Deer liberated at Orongorongo Station

1914 The Public Hall was built

1914-1915 Members of the Field Naturalist's Club visited the mouth of the Wainuiomata in order to study the shrub Muchlenbeckia Astoni (shrubby Tororaro)

1916 B. Brown built an Orongorongo hut at Browns stream; The old school building was demolished.
1918 Jan Military call-up J. Burrow Jnr, farmer, Wainuiomata
1919 Sep 19 Mata Co-operative Dairy Company (Limited) was incorporated under the Companies Act 1908
.
1920 Wellington City Engineer, W. H. Morton, recommends the Orongorongo Scheme

1921 Aug 21 Unveiling of the Wainuiomata War Memorial
1921 Dec Henry PACE aged 39yrs drowned in a flooded Wainuiomata River - body not recovered

1924 Orongorongo Tunnel is put through under the guidance of Bob Semple

1926 The Orongorongo Tunnel and pipeline was completed

1926 Feb Vincent Herbert Revell WARDELL aged one year 8 months drowned in the Wainui Stream close to the Post Office while his mother attended to duties in the Post Office

1927 Scouts from "over the hill" camped at Brookfield
1927 Wainuiomata Women's Institute established - the fifth in New Zealand
1927 Wainuiomata Development Limited Register of Shareholders 1927-1932
1927 Wainuiomata Development Company Papers and a brief history

1928 Catchpole Stream is corrected to Catchpool - Museum Newsletter November 1977
From a letter written by Mr E. G. Pilcher dated 9th February 1928 and addressed to the Surveyor General
"Dear Sir, I desire to draw your attention to the mis-spelling of a name on the official maps of the Wainuiomata District, viz Catchpole stream, so spelt is erroneous, the name should be Catchpool, having been named after my relative, Mr Edward Catchpool, who arrived by the "Oriental" in 1840, as one of the original settlers of the New Zealand Company... selected land in this locality and the property was afterwards disposed of to the Grace family..." The reply dated 12th March 1928 from the Department of Lands and Survey: "Dear Sir, In answer to your letter of the 9th ultimo, requesting to have the name of the Catchpool Stream, Wainui-o-mata District, corrected on the Survey Maps, I have to advise you that at the annual meeting of the Geographic Board held on the 9th instant, it was resolved to make the correction as desired..."

1929 August A storm caused a large slip on the east side of the Wainui-o-mata main road about four miles south of the post office
1932 The start of the Town of Wainuiomata followed by its extensions
1935 A manual telephone exchangev was established in the Post Office
1936 Oct 1 Claude and Freda Williams take over the Wainuiomata Post Office
1937 Claude Williams starts Wainuiomata Transport and the School Bus Service

1938 Moved the new Store built in front of old Store and Post Office to Main Road Corner
1938 An additional classroom is added to the 1908 school building.

1939 Claude Williams took over the Milk Can pick-up service from Dairy Farms
1940 Repairs on Morton Dawm spillway apron completed and parapet added

1941 Oct 28 Railway Bus Service to Lower Hutt commences
1941 Nov 01 The Homedale Motor Camp and Picnic Grounds reopen

1942 Claude Williams started Wainui Shingle Company at the end of the Coast Road; leased from Riddiford Estate

1943 Orongorongo Deserter's Hut - The Story
1943 May 01 Kittyhawk Crash at Skerrett's Creek & death of Sergeant Thomas Victor Marchant
1943 Jul 01 Claude Williams sold Store and Post Office to Ken Ibell

1944 Boy Scouts group formed
1944 Apr 12 Electricity was connected to 35 new dwellings in the Homedale area
1944 Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade formed

1945 Plunket Rooms opened
1946 Wainuiomata Rugby Club establised
1947 Savings Bank facilities were available
1948 Sep 23 First medical prescription dispensed by Arthur Saville

1949 Hutt County Council granted £50 to the Wainui-o-Mata Domain Board
1949 Jul 07 Progressive Association meeting attended by 70 members
1949-1950 Homedale Tattler

1950 Mar First issue of the Valley News
1950 Jul 15 Wellington City Council released water from the Morton Dam leading to loss of stock, damage to fences and erosion.

1951 Red Cross Society started
1951 Sep Mr Woods is the Hutt County Foreman at Wainui-o-mata

1952 Universal Business Directory
1953 Wainuiomata Lodge No.379 is establised
1953 The Automatic Telephone Exchange was opened in the Main Road building with 230 subscribers
1954 Plans for the Wainuiomata Swimming Baths were initiated
1955 Empire Hotel built (now the Palliser)
1956 Little Theatre Programs 1956 onwards - Wainuiomata Little Theatre website

1957 Claude Williams sells Wainui Shingle Company to Hargreaves and Ingley
1957 Hutt County Council took over the water supply linked with the Wellington pipeline
1957 Wainuiomata School Centennial Jubilee 1857-1957 - Digitised Booklet (8MB)

1958 Glendale School opened (2nd school in the valley)
1958 First parade of Homes - mostly built by local builders
1958 Fraser Barton opened shop in Queen Street

1959 Wainuiomata Streets Directory 1959 - the first listing that provides street numbers
1959 Wainuiomata Beautifying Society established

1960 Universal Business Directory
1961 Nov 6 Wainuiomata (also known as Wainui) Post Office is renamed Homedale Post Office

1962 Pencarrow outfall opened
1962 Dec 26 Storm damages Wainuiomata water supply

1963 Bill Kemp (1927-2019) Lighthouse keeper at Baring Head 1963-1966
1963 Parklands Motel & Wainuiomata College opened

1964 Wainuiomata Universal Business Directory
1964 Feb 8 Prouse Family Reunion at the Coast Road Church

1966 Community Development Survey
1967 Nov 25 Offical opening of Wainuiomata Swimming Baths - Article 20 Nov 2017 50th Anniversary by Clark Stiles

1968 Licensing Trust Members 1968 to 2001
1968 A microstrainer is installed at the Wainuiomata water supply
1968 May 24 Inangahua Earthquake - Magnitude 7.1
1968 Sep First Rhododendrums planted on the loop of the old hill road near the summit
1968 Nov Start of Parkway Subdivision

1969 Proposal for Wainuiomata Water Treatment Plant

1970 Wainuiomata Mall opened
1970 Wainuiomata Intermediate opened
1970 Wainuiomata Bushfire Force established
1970 Fitzroy Tavern opened: 1st premises of Woa Licensing Trust.
1970 Feb Organisations in the Valley

1971 A modern Fire Station was built in Fitzherbert Road
1971 Nov 20 Wainuiomata Art Society Exhibition

1972 The Public Hall was demolished

1972 A Local Government scheme intended to completely disband Hutt County Council resulted in it being reduced to three ridings - Wainuiomata, Heretaunga and Horokiwi

1973 Mar Hutt County Council call in a Nelson based helicopter to assist with fighting the Nelson Crescent hill fire
1973 Jul 28 Conservation Week Tree Planting in the Nelson Crescent area

1975 Gas arrived - the first consumer was the new Medical Centre in the Strand
1977 First Historical Society Newsletters July, September, November

1978 Hutt County submitted formal application to Local Government Commission to allow borough status for Wainuiomata. This was declined.
1978 Nov 25 Art Exhibition at the Old Coast Road Church - Wainuiomata Art Society

1980 Christopher Frederick Jarvis (1916-1980) Deliverer of Valley News 1950s-1977
1980 Ernest Gordon Anderson (1900-1980) Head Teacher Wainuiomata School from 1953

1981 Athol Frederick Haste (1929-1981) Custodian of the Community Centre
1981 Wainuiomata Licensing Trust purchases Empire Hotel; renamed Palliser after refurbishment

1982 First Kohanga Reo (in NZ) opened in Fraser Street
1982 Book launch of "Wainuiomata - These Passing Years" by Thomas Kenneally

1983 The first Kohanga reo in New Zealand is opened in Fraser Street
1983 Community Marae Complex - official celebrations
1983 Visit by Prince Charles and Princess Diana

1983 Hutt County made another application, on behalf of Wainuiomata District Council, to allow borough status for Wainuiomata. Local Government decided to proceed - it didn't.

1984 Mata Cheese Factory Damaged by Fire - see: Mata Cheese Factory Wainuiomata (Image sequence over time)
1986 Local Government Commission proposes as scheme to create a Wainuiomata District

1986 Aug Wainuiomata Lions complete 'Welcome to Wainuiomata' sign on Hill Road entrance - in the form of a raised bank with the word "Wainuiomata" shown in flowers together with an information board depicting points of interest in the Valley. Not long after the Wainuiomata Jaycees finalised the Hill Road lookout.

1987 The Wellington Education Board have the use of the "old school" to the Wainuiomata Historical Society.

1988 Morton Dam decommissioned
1988 Oct 03 Local Government Commission produces indicative scheme to amalgamate Wainuiomata with Lower Hutt.
1988 Oct 31 Hutt City Council and Wainuiomata District Community Council are abolished
1988 Nov 01 Wainuiomata District Council established

1989 Sep 30 Opening of the Wainuiomata Historical Museum by Mayor Harry Martin
1989 Amalgamation of Lower Hutt, Petone, Wainuiomata and Eastbourne into Hutt City

1990 Jun 20 Orongorongo Lodge burnt down
1990 Oct 16 Arakura School fire - five classrooms, storage room and boiler room lost
1990 Nov 11 Wainuiomata Primary School Fire - four classrooms, library, toilet block and caretaker's room lost

1993 Incorporated Societes Dissolved
Solo Parents (Wainuiomata), Wainuiomata Amateur Swimming Club, Wainuiomata Associated Moddellers
Wainuiomata Association Football Club, Wainuiomata Badminton Club, Wainuiomata BMX Club
Wainuiomata Brass Band, Wainuiomata Valley Motor Sport Club

1994 Society Cancellation - Wainuiomata Taxi Society Limited

1995 Wood Family Plaque is laid in Isabel Grove

1996 Closures Wainui Timber (1992) Ltd; Wainuiomata 1-hour photo centre; Wainuiomata Auto Spares Ltd
Wainuiomata Christian Kindergarten

1997 Society Cancellations - Samoan Methodist Churches of Samoa (Wainuiomata Parish), Wainuiomata Visitors Centre
1998 Closures Arakura Playcentre, Wainuiomata Contractors
1999 Closures Wainuiomata Pharmacy; Wainuiomata Licensing Trust collapsed financially

2000 Incorporated Society Dissolved Wainuiomata Civic Fund
2000 Closures Playmates Childcare Centre situated at Wainuiomata College; Wainuiomata Developments Limited

2000 Registered Pharmacies Brian's Pharmacy Limited 8B The Strand; Clive Cannons Limited 24 Queen Street
Wainuiomata Pharmacy (1996) Limited Shop 4/5, Wainuiomata Shopping Centre, The Strand

2001 School Mergers Sun Valley School with Parkway School; Parkway College with Wainuiomata College
Pencarrow Shool with Glendale School; Parkway Intermediate with Wainuiomata Intermediate
Woodhatton School with Wainuiomata School

2001 Incorporated Societes Dissolved
Wainuiomata Cricket Club; Wainuiomata Darts Association; Wainuiomata Pool & Darts Club

2002 Registered Pharmacies Clive Cannons Limited 20-21 Queen Street, Kings Pharmacy Limited 8 The Strand
Wainuiomata Pharmacy (1996) Limited Shop 4/5, Wainuiomata Shopping Centre, The Strand

2002 Incorporated Societies Dissolved Wainuiomata Community House, Wainuiomata Parents Centre
2002 Hutt City Council Land Exchange Grimsby Grove Reserve for land at Upper Fitzherbert Road

2003 Incorporated Societies Un-Dissolved Wainuiomata Darts Association, Wainuiomata Community House
Wainuiomata Pool & Darts Club

2003 Incorporated Societies Dissolved Wainuiomata Returned Services Association
Wainuiomata Services and Citizens Club, The Lions Club Of Wainuiomata Pakeke

2004 Registered Pharmacies Clive Cannons Limited 20-21 Queen Street, Kings Pharmacy Limited 8A The Strand
Wainuiomata Pharmacy (1996) Limited Shop 4/5, Wainuiomata Shopping Centre, The Strand

2004 Incorporated Societies Dissolved Royal New Zealand Plunket Society Wainuiomata Branch
Samoan Methodist Churches Wainuiomata Parish, The Ekalesia Faapotopotoga A Iesu I samoa Ma Atunuu I Fafo Wainuiomata Church
Wainuiomata Combined Sports Club, Wainuiomata Jaycee, Wainuiomata Pool & Darts Club

2004 Notice of Intention to Restore Company to the Register Ratis Island & Asian Foods Ltd, 21 Konini St

2005 Incorporated Societies Dissolved Wainuiomata Community Trust, Lions Club of Wainuiomata, Wainuiomata Stroke Club
Wainuiomata Rugby Football League Club, Community YMCA of Wainuiomata, Tourism Wainuiomata, Wainuiomata Wine Club
The Wainuiomata Branch of the Royal NZ Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

2005 Incorporated Societies Un-Dissolved Wainui-o-mata Marae Association, Lions Club of Wainuiomata, Wainuiomata Rubby Football Club
2005 Place Name Alteration Scholl Creek to Scholes Creek Stream flowing westerly into the Wainuiomata River
2005 Notice of Intention to Restore Company to the Register Clanross Limited, 18 Tyrone Grove; Kaynan Real Estate, 26 Hair St, Homedale
2005 Closures Wainuiomata Physiotherapy Limited, Wainuiomata Hire Centre, Jims Mowing Wainuiomata

2013 Mar 16 Historic Wainuiomata Lower Dam Opening
2013 Sep 07 History Panels unveiled

2014 25th Anniversary of the opening of the Wainuiomata Historical Museum
2016 President's Report

2017 President's Report
2017 40th Anniversary Celebrations of the Wainuiomata Historical Society
2017 Nov 19 Henry James (Harry) Martin, the only Mayor of Wainuiomata, passed away aged 92 years

2018 Sep 22 New Heritage Panels featuring Wainuiomata women who registered to vote in 1893 are put on display
2018 Oct 21-28 Free Heritage Hunt Competition with prizes to be won

2019 Jul 13 Official opening of The National Museum of Forest and Rural Fire on The Strand
2019 Sep 30 30th Anniversary of the opening of the Museum