Newlands lies approximately 8km north of the city centre and to the east of its nearest neighbour, Johnsonville. Most of Newlands is perched on one of several hills, one side of which overlooks Wellington Harbour and up to the Hutt Valley.
A bit of history
The Newlands area was once known as Pukehuia. The New Zealand Company sold off 100 acre sections to settlers. Newlands may have been named after Thomas Newland who settled in Wellington in 1875, or it may have simply meant “new land”.
Development was slow in Newlands. It was a dairy and pig farming area and was the main source of Wellington’s milk supply. It was hard to get road improvements until the late 1900′s. There was no running water until 1926 and before that they got water from rivers and streams. Even after 1926 running water was only available to houses built after 1926 and others had to use tank water.
Despite reasonable proximity to shops, public transport, good schools and some new high-value housing subdivisions it has one of the lowest average house valuations in Wellington. It has some small grocery shops (”dairies”), with the nearest supermarket being in Johnsonville but there is much talk and speculation regarding the future of the Newlands Mall. Local talk is that a New World or Pac n Save could be on the cards with the development of the Newlands shopping mall. A new Community Centre has just been completed behind the current Mall area.
Things you may not know about Newlands
An early impediment to growth of the area was the so-called ‘Baby Farm Scandal’ in 1923, when Newlands residents Daniel and Martha Cooper were accused of the murder of four children (two of them his own by their maid). Cooper had offered pregnant single women a discreet retreat to have their babies, and adoption arranged, for a fee of £50. Three bodies were found after the police were alerted to the activities taking place there. The subsequent trial was a sensation. Cooper was found guilty and hanged in June 1923. His wife was acquitted. The legacy of the scandal was such that, even as late as 1953, the Newlands Paparangi Times was calling for a change in the suburb’s name to help remove the association in people’s minds. Large-scale subdivison of Newlands did not come until the late 1950s. In the following decades the suburb became known as the ‘first home owners’ suburb’ as hundreds of young couples built houses in the area. One of the biggest beneficiaries of this influx was farmer Bill Miles who, from the late 1950s onwards, sold sections of his property as demand allowed.
Woodridge Estate
Development of Woodridge Estate began when the landowning family of Woodridge Farm, the Wrights, began to cut a portion of their farm into lots in the 1980′s. Woodridge is still actively growing under the guiding hand of the Wright family members in the form of Woodridge Developments and Wrightway Homes.
Mr Wright took the ‘wood’ theme from the family farm and named many of the streets in keeping with this theme. Examples are Peppertree Lane, Cedarwood St, Ashwood St, Kentwood Drive, White Pine Ave, and Cabbage Tree Lane.
Bellevue Estate
The harbour side of the ridgeline that runs along the East side of Newlands was developed in the 1990′s. Affording spectacular views of Petone, Eastbourne, The Harbour Entrance and the City, this area now houses executive dwellings with the last of the available bare land being developed further down the hill towards the Hutt motorway since 2007.
Woodridge Estate and Bellevue Estate are two examples of new housing subdivisions in the greater Newlands area. Both of these subdivsions are very popular and are stil
l growing with land and house packages available from the developers. As part of Wellington’s growth framework, there is much potential on the easy rolling West facing land North of Woodridge and Grenada Village. Newlands is certainly an area to watch in terms of further capital growth as young homebuyers flock to the area to purchase value housing for their first home.
Transport
The Newlands area is well served by buses to and from the city and linking with the Johnsonville train, run by Newlands Coach Services.
Schools
Local Businesses
On Newlands Road
Northpac Building Supplies
CDR Electrical phone: 4788014
Classic Panel and Paint phone: 9393928
Hampton Print phone: 4787797
ABC Air Conditioning Phone: 9387525
New Dragon Takeaways Phone: 4786154
Newlands Dairy
In the Newlands Shopping Centre
Golden City Takeaways Phone: 9399293
Advanced Television Services Phone: 4783065
Windy Hills Cafe and Restaurant Phone: 4782413
Newlands Pharmacy Phone: 4787483
One stop Super Shop (Dairy)
Bonnie and Clyde Hair Salon Phone: 9393598
Fish Boys
Gourmet Burgers and Grilled Fish Salads
Phone: 0800 fishboys web: www.fishboys.co.nz
Voongs Takeaways
Newlands Hairstylists Phone: 4784783
Infonett Computors
Phone: 9386004 web: www.infonett.co.nz
AAA Driver Training Centre
Phone: 4789876 Email: aaa@drivertraining.co.nz Web: www.drivertrainer.co.nz
JNS Eastern Traders
Spices and Exotic Foods
Phone: 9392424 Email: jns_foods@hotmail.com
Currytogo
Delicious Indian Takeaways
Phone orders: 4776662
Glad
Christian Books and Supplies and Coffee Lounge
Phone: 4774492
Hell Pizza
Phone: 4786007
Newlands Arms Tavern
Public Bar, bottle store, and pokies
Phone: 4788021
Facilities
Newlands Community Centre
A multi-purpose facility which including a toy library, cyber library, drop-in space, meeting rooms, performance space, an outdoor half-court and plenty of facilities for young people.
9 Batchelor St, Newlands (behind Newlands Mall off Stewart Drive)
Phone: 4773724 Email: newlandscc@wcc.govt.nz
Web: Newlands Community Centre
Newlands Medical Centre
11 Stewart Drive, Newlands. Phone: 4789858
Newlands Recreation Centre
Newlands College, Bracken Road Phone: 3877191
Newlands Centennial Hall
Located next to the Fire Station on Newlands Road
Newlands Voluntary Fire Brigade
Clubs and Associations
Newlands Paparangi Residents Association
Meets the first tuesday of every month at the new community House 23 Batchelor st, Newlands.
Phone: Michelle Rowe 477 0452 for details web: www.residents.org.nz/nppa.htm
Newlands Table Tennis Club
Meets in the Centennial Hall on tuesdays during winter.
Contact Mike Lavery for details Phone: 4786752 Email: mikelavery@xtra.co.nz
Newlands Softball Club
Contact Joanne Tait for more details Phone: 4780233 Email: nsc@pcs.co.nz