The very vocal occupants of this small local community defines Glenside as a suburb located between Wellington and Porirua, centrally located at the southern end of New Zealand’s North Island. It is mainly rural zoned and is between the neighbouring communities of Johnsonville and Tawa on the old Porirua Road. Hills, streams and rural landscape characterize the area. The resident population is 336 (NZ Statistics, 2006 Census).
History
European settlement dates back to 1840 when the area was called The Halfway, being located halfway between Wellington and Porirua. The name Glenside came in 1928, as a result of a competition.
Between 1840 and 1928 the locality of Glenside was known as The Halfway, being situated halfway between Wellington and Porirua. A number of families from the first New Zealand Company immigrant ship Aurora settled here. Anthony and Susannah Wall arrived in 1841 and provided overnight accommodation for travellers in their home which became known as ‘The Halfway House’. The business was issued its first license for the sale of liquor in 1842. The area was important as a place where horses and travellers could be accommodated and refreshed for their journey along the old Porirua Road. The Halfway was also a coaching stop. In 1850 the residents here raised £250 to help build the Ngauranga Gorge Road, a far more acceptable road into town than the steep and dangerous Kaiwharawhara Hill Road.
The name Glenside officially replaced The Halfway when the Post Office opened in 1928. It was felt the name ‘Halfway’ would be confused with Halfway Bush near Dunedin. A naming competition was held and local landowner Mrs P.C. Watts’ suggestion of Glenside was selected. She felt the area was reminiscent of a Scottish glen. A later ‘Halfway House’ still stands and more information on this house and the surrounding area can be found on a panel a little further on.
The Halfway was the halfway resting-place for travelers journeying between Wellington and Porirua along a Maori trail. The route this trail traversed from Kaiwharawhara to Porirua was to be modified and enlarged and become known as the Porirua Road.
The development of the Porirua Road north of The Halfway halted at The Halfway due to tension between the Government Administrators and Ngati Toa. The issues for Ngati Toa were over questionable land deals after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. This resulted in outbreaks of war at Wairau and Nelson (1843), at the Boulcott Farm in the Hutt Valley (1846) and the skirmish at Battle Hill, near Pauatahanui (1846).
The Porirua Road through The Halfway/Glenside was used as a main route north of Wellington from 1840 until 1951. In 1951 the stretch of motorway between Porirua and Johnsonville was opened, by-passing Glenside.
The section of the old Porirua Road from Johnsonville to Takapu is about 5 km long.
The rural sector through Glenside is 2.5 km and is the only remaining rural sector of the old Porirua Road. The remnants of early colonial settlement along this road are still visible today.
The historic settlement patterns of the original Halfway/Glenside locality can be roughly shaped into five eras.
Colonial until the railway deviation (1840-1928)
The railway deviation (1928-1937)
World War II to Motorway opening (1937-1951)
Churton Park development (1963 onwards)
Creation of Glenside suburb (2003 onwards)
More info can be found at http://www.glenside.wellington.net.nz/
and on the Wellington City Council Heritage Walks online brochure
Points of Interest
Nott House
This farmhouse was built for William Nott, a farmer. He immigrated to New Zealand with his wife Ann in 1842 and they settled at The Halfway. In 1850 the Notts purchased land from the Drake family. Mrs Nott died in 1853 and Nott remarried before purchasing this property in 1860. The Notts sold to David and Pricilla Rowel in 1919.
read more on page 21.