Genealogy Chat

I've managed to identify the site of my ancestor Thomas Bluett's Lithographic Printing Office in Wellington in 1841. It's in a plot of land bounded on the West by numbers 19 to 85 The Terrace (facing a big hospital), on the South by Farmers Lane, on the East by part of Lambton Quay and on the north by an imaginary line from Bolton Street to Ballance Street.

As I want to write a few words describing this site for my family history I wonder if anybody could advise me what to say about the place as it is now. I know that an earthquake in 1855 caused the shoreline to change, and that in 1841 Lambton Quay was at the waterline. So how would you describe this area? Is it the business district of Wellington?

I don't know New Zealand, but have you put the address into Google Maps? The area looks built up now.

Kath. x

Yes Kathleen. I've also viewed a satellite image.

When Thomas arrived, settlement had only just begun and it was officially named a colony the following month.

As far as I can make out, the building on this site (on the terrace side) is Greenock House at no39. Apart from being the HQ of the NZ SIS(!!) it is an office block. Have a look at http://www.propertylook(.)co(.)nz/listing/default.asp?lk=96483

Lambton Quay is mostly shops, but the end you are interested in has some office buildings as well. Parliament is just down the road.

Street numbers in the Terrace seem to be the same - try doing a google search on 85 The Terrace, Wellington etc (odd nos only)- they don't all come up - mostly office blocks , some with restaurants/bars on ground level. Numbers in Lambton Quay look like 86-172 in the block you are interested in. Farmers Lane is still there, the block is bisected by Masons Lane which runs between the Terrace and Lambton Quay.

Also http://www.wellington(.)govt(.)nz/picturegallery/display-image.php?g=7&i=3

Remove brackets from addresses.

Try contacting Wellington Council info@wcc(.)govt(.)nz they may be able to help with a contact or current pictures

Peter (in Auckland)

Hi Paul
Was visiting Wellington earlier this year in March and the areas you have named are mostly commercial and Shopping areas.
Lambton Quay is a big shopping area.
Farmers lane also shopping.
Bolton street and The terrace are dominated by the motorway. Bolton street has the oldest cemetary dating back to 1840.
Lambton Quay is near the Train station and bus station with easy access to lambton Harbour and the Ferry terminal.
I was only there for a short while and found it to be a vibrant, very modern city.
I am sure Kiwis will tell you more than I can.
Hope this helps.
If you go on www.wellington.govt.nz it will give you a lot of info.
Regards
Carol

Wow Carol! You say the Bolton Street Cemetery dates back to 1840... Thomas's father William remained in Wellington when Thomas left for Sydney in 1842.... he's on a list of people eligible for jury service in 1847. As Thomas is recorded as asking for a Catholic priest when he died, I assume the family was Catholic, so if the Bolton Street cemetery took Catholics maybe that's where he's buried.

Catholics more likely in the Mount Street Cemetery

Peter