Hayes Paddock

Hayes Paddock

Hayes Paddock in Hamilton East was developed as a garden suburb between 1939 and 1945. More than 200 state houses were built there, many of which are unchanged on the outside. The area is now protected as a heritage precinct.

Hayes Paddock incorporates wide open spaces with planted esplanade reserve and is used as a through route on the walkway/cycleway connection to Hamilton Gardens. The beach at Wellington Street is located at this reserve and is used for swimming during the summer. It is the city’s most popular river swimming location.   

Hayes Paddock Houses: Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

State Houses 

A valued and iconic feature of the New Zealand landscape, the state houses of the 1930s and '40s remain a distinctive feature of most towns and cities, immediately recognizable by their cottage-style windows and hipped, tiled roofs. 

 Built from the best materials of the day and designed by architects, state houses embody simple and robust, yet enduring design. Hayes Paddock is one of the best examples throughout New Zealand of a realtively intact, architecturally coherent group of houses that exemplify the state housing ideals of the 1940s. 

Hayes Paddock Houses: Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand 

Hamilton East: One of Hamilton's oldest suburbs

One of Hamilton’s oldest suburbs, from the 1870s until the mid-20th century, Hamilton East was known by some as ‘Irishtown’ because a significant number of the militiamen who settled there were of Irish descent. Hamilton East’s main street, Grey Street, named after Governor George Grey was originally destined to be the main street of Hamilton. Evidence of planning for the center of the village can be seen in the ‘village square’ concept of Steele Park, named after militia officer William Steele, and the English trees surrounding the park and along Grey Street.     

Renaming of Hamilton's Streets

Knowledge of the past and a need to embrace a new future has created a better understanding of the appropriateness of street names and has resulted in the recent change of Hamilton East's Von Tempsky Street, named after Gustavus von Tempsky to Puutikitiki Street and the nearby Dawson Park to Te Wehenga Park.  While it is true as the saying goes, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." A Historical Report on Hamilton Street and City Names,  written by respected historian Vincent O'Malley, June 2020, clearly outlines Gustavus' involvement in war atrocities.

The new te reo Maaori names serve as an opportunity to revive original place names that have a closer relationship to the whenua (land), reflect the area’s history and are significant to mana whenua.

New names for street and park recognise city history, 26 June 2022.

 Garden Suburb

Hayes Paddock incorporates wide open spaces with planted esplanade reserve and is used as a through route on the walkway/cycleway connection to Hamilton Gardens. The beach at Wellington Street is located on this reserve and is used for swimming during the summer. It is the city’s most popular river swimming location.    

Hamilton Gardens

Also in Hamilton East, Hamilton Gardens is Waikato’s most popular visitor attraction, with over one million visitors and over seven hundred events each year. Te Parapara Pa was located on the Hamilton Gardens site. The pa was occupied by Ngati Wairere. The garden was renowned as a site of sacred rituals associated with harvesting food crops. There stood a Tuahu (sacred altar) called Te Ikamauroa at the pa. 

Further reading

Hayes Paddock design guide. (2006). Hamilton, New Zealand: Hamilton City Council.Heritage Hamilton: A celebration of the city's historic buildings. (2006). Hamilton, New Zealand: Hamilton City Council.McEwan, A., Et al. (2008). The houses of Hayes Paddock. Hamilton, New Zealand: Ramp Press.  

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Hayes Paddock Neighbourhood

Residents of Hamilton East (Hamilton, NZ)