Wiremutaone/Johnsonville
A DigitalNZ Story by Ann Reweti
The colonial beginnings of Johnsonville and snippets of the town's development to the present time.
Frank Johnson, Samuel Ironside, hotels, stockade, army volunteers, army casualties, stockyards, state houses, shops, "Tip Top", sports teams, suffragists, schools, Johnsonville Mall, Malaghan
HISTORY OF EARLY JOHNSONVILLE. (Evening Post, 08 November 1916)
National Library of New Zealand
OLD JOHNSONVILLE (Evening Post, 13 November 1916)
National Library of New Zealand
IN THE EARLY DAYS (Evening Post, 10 November 1916)
National Library of New Zealand
Middleton's Stockade, Volume 53, 1921, Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 1921
Alexander Turnbull Library
Samuel Ironside
Alexander Turnbull Library
OLD PORIRUA ROAD (Evening Post, 28 December 1938)
National Library of New Zealand
View of Johnsonville
Alexander Turnbull Library
Written records of a Māori presence at Wiremutaone begin in the 1840s -- McCleverty Reserves were awarded to Pipitea and Te Aro Pā "natives" 1847. (Please see two DigitalNZ files - Ngauranga and "McCleverty Reserves 1847 @ Wiremutaone", which illustrate some of the history and development of Sections (6), 7, 8, 9). (See also first chapter of Wellington's northern suburbs, 1840-1918 compiled by Julie Bremner, 1983).
The settler history begins with Frank Johnson's clearing of the bush, and establishment of a sawmill at the northern end of the present Johnsonville settlement, in the vicinity of Waitohi Stream and Trafalgar Street. Rev. Samuel Ironside named the clearing 'Johnsonville' in the 1840s.
The first church meeting place was for the Methodist followers with William Nott delivering some of the first services. The next church to be built was the first of five churches for the Anglican parish - (all) built upon the site of the present St John's Church.
The first track north followed the hilltops from Ngaio to Johnsonville. The valleys were heavily clad in bush. A series of stockades was built along this route, to protect the settlers but the stockades served also to open up a much improved route to Porirua.
Johnsonville Hotel, Wellington, ca 1889
Auckland Libraries
Railway Hotel - The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Victoria University of Wellington
Volunteer training grounds at Johnsonville
View of a volunteers camp, Johnsonville, Wellington, New Zealand
Alexander Turnbull Library
Colonel Bauchop and local officers
Alexander Turnbull Library
Artillery In Action During The Wellington Manœuvers
Auckland Libraries
Horatio Herbert Kitchener, on horseback in Johnsonville
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville's contribution to the wars.
Lance Corporal W. H. SYMONS, of Johnsonville, Wounded
Auckland Libraries
Tpr. L. Mahony, of Johnsonville, killed in action
Auckland Libraries
Gunner R. Townhill, of Johnsonville, killed in action
Auckland Libraries
Private P. R. Martin, of Johnsonville, Wellington, accidentally killed
Auckland Libraries
L. Corp. H. W. Braithwaite, of Johnsonville, died of wounds
Auckland Libraries
Pte A E Doyle of Johnsonville, killed in action
Auckland Libraries
Pte. Leslie C. Rice, of Johnsonville. Died of wounds
Auckland Libraries
Pte A E Cook of Johnsonville, wounded
Auckland Libraries
Pte. P. E. Doyle, of Johnsonville. Died of wounds
Auckland Libraries
Sergt Major H W Angell of Johnsonville, killed in action
Auckland Libraries
L.-Corp. F. E. Ballard, of Johnsonville, Killed in action
Auckland Libraries
Exampes of the forested road north to Porirua.
Forest on Porirua Road, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Forest, Porirua Road, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Bridge on Porirua Road at Glenside, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Further development of the Johnsonville to Porirua road.
Blowing up bridge at Johnsonville
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Middleton Road, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
The saleyards were established around 1894 (Freeman R Jackson & Co.) Behind the saleyards lie the state housing of the later 1930s -- The construction of houses in this block followed closely on the heels of first state houses at Wellington and Titahi Bay. This Johnsonville land was part of the Te Aro Pā Reserves awarded to Ngāti Haumia, (1847) and was occupied by them from late 1890s. - (you may track stories of Agnes Himiona (Simeon), Ani Waaka Durling and Charles Wallace).
Stockyards at Johnsonville, Wellington region
Alexander Turnbull Library
Stockyards, Johnsonville, Wellington region
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville
DigitalNZ
The first railway line winding through Johnsonville to (Whanganui) was opened 1885. The line terminated at Johnsonville after the building of the rail bridge at Ngāuranga with its subsequent bypass to Porirua and beyond.
(Rly. Publicity photo.) — Arrival of the first train at Johnsonville
Victoria University of Wellington
Westinghouse petrol-electric rail motor, 1914; R.M.1 (Rail Motor number one)
Alexander Turnbull Library
Blowing up bridge at Johnsonville
Alexander Turnbull Library
Here are aerial photographs of the rapidly expanding Johnsonville suburb, glimpses of the new highway north and the resulting overhead bridges.
Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Aerial view of Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Road, Wellington, construction of the Johnsonville bypass tunnel
Alexander Turnbull Library
Construction of the Helston Road overbridge and the Johnsonville-Porirua Motorway, North Wellington City
Alexander Turnbull Library
Factories at Johsonville: there was a complaint of "stench" from the glue factory, 1877 ; Chapman's tannery was destroyed by fire 1898 ; and another bush fire destroyed the hotel, Chapman's store and Bowler's cottage, January 1899. There was once a mattress factory , a custom-built Post Office opened 1907, and a blacksmith was still operating on Main Road, in 1957. Just to the right of the blacksmith building is the edge of Mrs Flossie Riddell's dairy. The Symonds building (William's butchery) on the corner of Broderick and Johnsonville roads advertises Jantzen swimwear. Whilst the main Jantzen factory was at Tawa, there is a report of a branch at Johnsonville. Toyota had built a large warehouse on the site of the Salvation Army offices (but this closed in the 1980s?)
A NUISANCE. (Evening Post, 10 May 1877)
National Library of New Zealand
FIRE AT JOHNSONVILLE. (Wanganui Herald, 01 May 1899)
National Library of New Zealand
Bush Fires in Wellington. (Colonist, 14 January 1898)
National Library of New Zealand
Exterior view of a blacksmith shop at Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Unidentified blacksmith working at an anvil, in a workshop, Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Unidentified blacksmith heating metal object in a forge at a workshop, Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Post Office
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
JOHNSONVILLE EN FETE, (Evening Post, 09 May 1907)
National Library of New Zealand
Symonds Building, Johnsonville
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Shopping area Broderick Road, Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Street in Johnsonville
Alexander Turnbull Library
Wellington City Views: Exterior of Glen Alton Motel, Johnsonville
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Interior of chapel, Cenacle Sisters Community retreat house, Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
JOHNSONVILLE BALL (Evening Post, 23 July 1931)
National Library of New Zealand
CORONATION DANCE (Evening Post, 21 December 1936)
National Library of New Zealand
Johnsonville became a Town District in 1874. The Licensing Trust was a community-owned trust operating pubs at Johnsonville (where the fitness centre , Johnsonville Mall now stands) and Newlands Arms ; and also the Burma Lodge, (now Ryman's retirement village).
Mayor of Johnsonville
Alexander Turnbull Library
S. P. Andrew Photo. MR. G. A. LAWRENCE, the new chairman of the Johnsonville Town Board. (Evening Post, 29 September 1934)
National Library of New Zealand
JOHNSONVILLE TOWN BOARD. (Evening Post, 08 January 1910)
National Library of New Zealand
Johnsonville Mall opened its doors at labour weekend, 1969 but languishes in 2020 -- desperately in need of an upgrade.
Johnsonville Mall, 1973
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Boy sitting on Sammy the seal, Johnsonville Mall, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Supermarket carpark, Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
SCHOOLS
School girls from Johnsonville School, New Zealand
Auckland Libraries
Johnsonville School
Alexander Turnbull Library
Swimming pool at Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Working bee at Johnsonville School, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
New bell for Johnsonville School
Alexander Turnbull Library
ONSLOW COLLEGE, opened 1956, and later Johnsonville West was built to accommodate families in an expanding housing development.
School students at the opening of Onslow College, Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Onslow College under construction, Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Lady Cobham, presenting a prize to a schoolgirl, Onslow College, Johnsonville, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
New school 'Johnsonville West', Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Tip Top Ice Cream Factory - later General Foods, opened at Johnsonville in 1953. Many of the local women found employment on the factory floor of Tip Top, and an enlightened management sought, at one stage, to employ women on probation from Aroha Borstal, and also physically handicapped. It was a popular summer holiday source of employment for secondary and university students. By 1950s, the factory was owned and managed by Len Malaghan and sons, whose legacy of research now extends to the Malaghan Institute - presently working in areas such as vaccine development (Coronavirus).
(The Comis family members - Lil (Lilia) and Maria were foundation staff and core workers on the Johnsonville factory floor. (part of the highland Italian farmers who migrated to Johnsonville, and became part of community around the 1940s. Their brother Italo's fine voice was heard in local Wellington light opera.)
Eldest son of Tip Top founder fondly remembers the company
Radio New Zealand
Probably Comis family
Alexander Turnbull Library
Tip Top factory, Johnsonville, Wellington region, with women workers
Alexander Turnbull Library
... The Wellington company remained private, financed personally by Malaghan, and in 1953 it moved its operations to a modern factory in Johnsonville. Tip Top grew into the largest manufacturer of ice cream in New Zealand, supplying retail outlets throughout the country. In 1960 the Auckland and Wellington companies merged as General Foods Corporation (New Zealand), with Malaghan as managing director. Six years later, in a mutual exchange of directors, he joined the board of J. Wattie Canneries, with which General Foods completed a merger in 1969.
.... Len Malaghan had interests in farming, roller-skating, and fly fishing, particularly in the central North Island. He developed Hodgkin’s disease in the early 1960s. Impressed with his medical treatment, in 1967 he and his wife made a gift of £200,000 worth of General Foods shares to the Wellington Medical Research Foundation. This was used to establish the Len and Ann Malaghan Medical Research Trust and the Wellington Cancer and Medical Research Institute, later renamed the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5m29/malaghan-leonard-aloysius-patrick
Sport played a large part for many Johnsonville families - rugby, cricket, softball, boxing, bowls, hockey, soccer (Johnsonvilla - wore Aston Villa colours for many years). R Cameron was a promising welterweight boxer prior to the outbreak of WW2 and later became involved with administration of women's softball team. His grandson, Shane, has carried on and extended the legacy in the boxing world. The Kenny family excelled at rugby and boxing featuring strongly in provincial, army and Māori All Black rugby teams:
M. Kenny in the NZEF team: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19441104.2.111.6?items_per_page=10&query=kenny+%2c+rugby&snippet=true. Cricket was a longstanding favourite sport. Women's hockey made a very early beginning in the Wellington competition (early 1900s)
Mayor of Johnsonville meeting rugby players
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Rugby Club jubilee
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Rugby Club jubilee
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Rugby Club jubilee
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville 1954 Ladies' hockey team with trophy
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville hockey team, sixth grade, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Softball Club, men's team of 1956
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Softball Club, Wellington, executive committee
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Softball Club, Wellington, senior A team
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Cricket Club team 1966-1967
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Association Football Club, Wellington, senior team of 1960, 2nd division
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Basketball Club, A grade team of 1959
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville Basketball Club, A team of 1959
Alexander Turnbull Library
Random thoughts: the 1975 Land March on the motorway ; and a snow fall low-down in Johnsonville.
Photograph of the Māori land march demonstrators on the motorway near Johnsonville
Alexander Turnbull Library
Johnsonville suffragists are well-represented in the petition lists on the NZ History website: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/womens-suffrage/petition, see entries for:
Mrs Cunliffe, Mrs Angell, Emma Chapman, Mrs Simmons, S Mildenhall, Mrs Tayor, Mrs Morgan.
Suffragist: Mrs. Cunliffe
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Suffragist: Mrs Angell
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Suffragist: Emma Chapman
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Other Sources:
Johnsonville Memories and Old Friends: https://www.facebook.com/groups/337057353392313/
Wellington's northern suburbs, 1919-1945 / compiled by Julie Bremner for the Onslow Historical Society Inc. Millwood Press for The Society, 1987.
Wellington's northern suburbs, 1840-1918 / compiled by Julie Bremner ; for the Onslow Historical Society Inc. Millwood Press for the Onslow Historical Society, 1983.