Plan of Lowry Bay Estate, 1906

 

For people with a broader interest in the early history of their street - the Subdivision Advertisements are a colourful 'must see'.

It is one of a collection of 217 plans which date from around 1900 to around 1950 and cover a lot of the Hutt Valley, including areas now covered by Upper Hutt, and include some for parts of Wellington too. They were originally designed as advertising posters to encourage people to settle in newly developed areas but with the passing of time they have taken on a different role: the history of the property development and subdivision of the Hutt Valley.

They also offer a fascinating insight into street lay-outs which may not have gone ahead or may have been altered over time, original street names which have since been changed, the location of old homesteads, churches and stores and even in some instances photographs of what the area looked like before it was developed.

This example for "Lowry Bay", or Point Howard as it would be called now, even includes the bus times! 

Subdivision Advertisement reference: Arch 72735.

The Subdivision Advertisement series is currently being digitalised and on-line access will be provided.