A history of early settlers and their landholdings
Long before Wainuiomata became a residential suburb on the edge of Wellington, it was a rugged, isolated large series of valleys, thick with native bush and crossed only by muddy tracks and rough streams. In the mid-19th century, a handful of pioneering families laid claim to this landscape, carving out farms, establishing sawmills, and shaping the early infrastructure in the area. These settlers included the Jacksons, Graces, Sinclairs, Prouses, Burdans, Crowthers, Woods and others. Their holdings were vast, stretching across ridgelines, creeks, gullys, and larger valleys.
Burrow Family Land
Below is a summary of the Burrow family’s land dealings in Wainuiomata from 1894 to 1920. It traces how James Pardy Burrow and his son Jim bought, leased, developed and sold key parcels, from Ivy Cottage on Section 1 to the McIlvride holding that included the post office. It also notes Jim’s purchase of the Wakeham farm and his later farm on the area now known as Homedale, Hine Road and Poole Crescent, concluding with the sale to the Frederickson brothers.
Timeline
- 14 Dec 1894: James (Pardy) Burrow buys 20 acres of Section 1 Wainuiomata (with Ivy Cottage) from William Burdan for £220, borrowing £225 from William Ferguson.
- 1 Apr 1900: James Burrow leases Section 79 and Part Section 2 Wainuiomata from John McIlvride for 10 years at £30/year.
- 30 Sep 1905: James Burrow purchases the same land (Section 79 & Part Section 2, with Post Office) outright from McIlvride for £475.
- 26 Aug 1902: James Burrow Jnr. (Jim) buys the Wakeham property (209 acres across Sections 3, 42, 40, 4) from Elizabeth Collier for £650 + £600 borrowed.
- Aug 1908: Jim Burrow sells the Wakeham property via John Hawthorn to Peter Hatton Miller for £1880.
- c.1908–1910: Jim Burrow acquires 65 acres of Part Section 2 (covering present Homedale, Hine Rd, Poole Crescent) and builds a house at 8 Poole Crescent.
- 14 Feb 1919: Jim Burrow purchases his father’s original 20 acres of Section 1 for £250.
- Aug 1920: Jim sells 8 Poole Crescent house, 65 acres of Part Section 2, and 20 acres of Section 1 to Frederickson Brothers for £1700 (lending them £1000 at 7–10% interest).
Jackson Family Land
Charles Welby Jackson (1840 to 1926) inherited and farmed land on the slopes above the Coast Road in Wainuiomata. He married Elizabeth Grace, whose family’s land adjoined his. Their estate included ridge routes later known as Graces Track and, subsequently, Jacksons Track, linking the Coast Road with Gollans Valley and beyond. These routes were important thoroughfares in the 1880s.
The Jackson family based at Lowry Bay owned and traded several sections in Wainuiomata during the 1840s and 1850s. In later decades their properties were concentrated along the Coast Road, especially near 421 and 726 to 728, where a number of Jackson family houses and farms stood.
Timeline
- 1841: James and Emma Jackson clear two sections in Wainuiomata while based at Lowry Bay, employing workers to burn off and prepare ground for farming. (Heritage at Hutt City Libraries)
- February 1853: Crown Grant includes Section 3 on the Wainuiomata side of the hill to Emma Jackson, about 110 acres. Emma later gives Eliza Wood a 99-year peppercorn lease over this land. (Heritage at Hutt City Libraries)
- January 1855: Emma advertises Section 5, Wainuiomata, for sale. (Heritage at Hutt City Libraries)
- 1850s onward: A farm known later as Jacksons Farm occupies the river side of 726–728 Coast Road, the starting point for what became Graces or Jacksons Track toward Gollans Valley. The track dates from the 1850s.
- 1880s: Charles Welby Jackson is recorded with Jacksons Farm along the Coast Road slopes, married to Elizabeth Grace whose family developed land in that area. Location noted at 726–728 Coast Road.
- Late 1890s: Joseph Enoch Jackson builds Fairview, a house that still stands at 421 Coast Road.
- 1910s: John Keith Jackson builds Puka or Pukers Place also known as Whites House at 726–728 Coast Road on the river side.
- 20th century: Hermitage, a Grace and Jackson family house, is recorded at 726–728 Coast Road.
Grace Family Land
John Charles Grace (1807–1886) held extensive land along Coast Road, particularly across the high ridges now known as Graces Hill and Graces Stream. The Grace estate shared a boundary with the Jacksons, and their adjoining ridge track created an important corridor for travel and stock movement between properties.
Timeline
- 1851 to 1854: John Charles Grace acquires multiple Wainuiomata sections from Charles Mouncey Penny’s agents Bethune and Hunter. Claims are recorded for Sections 14, 15 and 16, with Crown Grant references and a dated claim on 17 February 1854. (nzpictures.co.nz)
- 21 April 1855: John Grace writes from Wainui o Mata Swamp on behalf of the local Road Board about land lists and road making, showing his active management of holdings. (nzpictures.co.nz)
- 29 November 1858: John Grace reports that access from the beach to the Wainuiomata Valley has been fenced off and asks the Crown Lands office to stake out the legal road. (nzpictures.co.nz)
- 17 December 1860: As a Board of Wardens representative, John Grace supports compensation for land taken to form a public road through the valley, confirming his role in local road and boundary matters affecting adjoining sections. (nzpictures.co.nz)
- By the 1850s: A ridge route across the Grace and Jackson properties is in use. It becomes known as Graces Track and later Jacksons Track, linking the Coast Road with Gollans Valley. (nzpictures.co.nz)
- 1886: Death of John Charles Grace, Justice of the Peace, marking the end of his direct tenure. (National Library of New Zealand, Find A Grave)
Pedersen Family Land
The Pedersen family’s landholdings in Wainuiomata, from the 1880s to 1920, begin with Halvor Pedersen’s purchases which totalled more than 190 acres which were sold to the Hansen brothers in 1909. He then acquired a substantial block near Coast Road, including the present Boys’ Brigade Camp and the sewage treatment site, which he sold to William Richard Scholes in 1920.
Timeline
- 30 Oct 1883: Halvor Pedersen buys Lot 1, Wainuiomata Small Farm Settlement (87 acres 2r 30p) from Henry Fitzherbert for £438-10, after borrowing £270.
- 6 May 1887: Halvor purchases Lot 28 (104 acres 2r 23p) from Fitzherbert for £358. (Lots 1 & 28 = over 190 acres).
- 8 Jun 1909: Halvor sells Lots 1 & 28 (190 acres) to the Hansen Brothers for £1900.
- 17 Jun 1909: Halvor buys 150 acres (Sections 63, and part 5, 6, 64) near Coast Road (includes present Boys Brigade Camp and sewage plant site).
- 16 Jul 1920: Halvor sells this Coast Road property to William Richard Scholes. Halvor dies within the next year.
Prouse Family Land
Richard Prouse (1792–1875) was among the early settlers along Coast Road. He logged the land on the valley floor and somewhat up the slopes. In 1866, he donated a section of his property for the construction of the first Methodist church in the valley.
Timeline
- 1844: Prouse family relocates timber operations from Johnsonville to the Wainuiomata valley floor, beginning major sawmilling activity. (wainuiomata.net)
- 29 January 1853: Richard Prouse purchases land along Coast Road, Wainuiomata, which later becomes the church site. (Coast Road Church)
- 1866: Donates land for the first Methodist church in Wainuiomata; services begin February 1866. (Coast Road Church)
- Late nineteenth century: Prouse family timber interests extend to Whitemans Valley and later Levin, while Coast Road property remains part of Wainuiomata’s early European heritage fabric. (Horowhenua Historical Society)
Sinclair Family Land
Hugh Sinclair (sometimes recorded as Ewen Sinclair, 1810–1871) acquired a large holding around Hine Road, Moores Valley, and Sinclair Valley now known as Reservoir Valley. He and his family established a sawmill along the Wainuiomata Stream some of their old logging routes are now walking tracks inside Wainuiomata Regional Park and their tramway is now the only access road into this park.
Timeline
Here is the timeline again with links to sources beside each bullet point:
- c. 1848: First landholding established on the north side of what is now Hine Road, Wainuiomata. Two early homesteads built: Glenhill and Moness. (wainuiomata.net)
- Early to mid-1850s: Substantial freehold accumulation in Wainuiomata begins, including frontage along the Wainuiomata Stream and valley flats leading toward Moores Valley. (wainuiomata.net)
- Late 1850s – early 1860s: Sawmilling operations established by the Sinclair family on the Wainuiomata Stream. Logging tracks and a tramway are formed; parts later become today’s walking tracks and the sole vehicle access into what is now Wainuiomata Regional Park. (Wikipedia)
- 2 May 1868: Crown Grant No. 2681 issued to John Sinclair (Hugh’s son) for 105 acres in Wainuiomata. (nzpictures.co.nz)
- 1869–1870: Northbrook constructed for Hugh’s daughter Agnes and her husband Captain John Mowlem on land gifted by Hugh. Later transferred to sons John and Duncan Sinclair. (digitalnz.org)
- 8 November 1867: Hugh publicly advertises a “valuable freehold farm at Wainui-o-mata” for inspection, confirming legal tenure and active management of his holdings. (wainuiomata.net)
- 27 March 1871: Hugh Sinclair dies; estate administration leads to transfer of major holdings and milling interests to his sons. (nzpictures.co.nz)
- 1872: John and Duncan Sinclair formalise the Wainuiomata Steam Saw Mill partnership and continue milling operations. (nzpictures.co.nz)
- 1875–1876: Electoral roll entry for Section 74, 100 acres, Wainuiomata, held by John Sinclair, tying the family to formally recorded land parcels.
Burdan Family Land
George and William Burdan began acquiring farmland in the valley around 1872. Their holdings included a sizeable block near what became known as the St Albans property, built in the 1920s. The Burdan brothers were active in community affairs, particularly in the local school committee, and their land spanned into what is now part of Remutaka Forest Park.
Timeline
- 1902 and 1904: Annual Parliamentary returns list William Burdan under Wainuiomata localities, which corroborates occupation and stockholding on the Burdan farm during this period. (paperspast.natlib.govt.nz)
- 1913 to 1915: Burdan Bros listed as Wainuiomata sheep owners. Multiple AJHR stock returns show Burdan Bros at Wainuiomata with tallies, reinforcing active farming and tenure continuity before World War One. (paperspast.natlib.govt.nz)
- 22 December 1920: John William Burdan named in a Māori Land Court transaction for Wainuiomata No 22 Subdivision 1. Gazette notice records a transaction involving Wainuiomata 22 Sub 1 between Ani Tiria and another and John William Burdan. This is a specific, citable land record linking a Burdan to a titled parcel in Wainuiomata by number. (paperspast.natlib.govt.nz)
- 1920s: St Albans homestead constructed for Maurice James Burdan on Coast Road. The homestead’s creation date and association with the Burdan block are supported by local history work and photographic catalogue records. (wainuiomata.net)
- 1922 to 1927: Individual Burdan farmers recorded for Wainuiomata and Eastbourne. AJHR lists C O Burdan, J W Burdan, M J Burdan and G G Burdan, showing named operators and reinforcing holdings through the 1920s. (paperspast.natlib.govt.nz)
Crowther Family Land
John Eric Crowther (1831–1911) farmed in Moores Valley, centred around an area now known as Crowthers Creek. His brother, Frederick Kershaw Crowther (1833–1907), held land closer to Homedale and the ridgelines above Coast Road. These elevated areas came to be known as Crowther Ridge and Mt Crowther, preserving the family’s name in the landscape.
Timeline
- 1864: John Eric Crowther purchases approximately 355 acres at Moores Valley, naming the farm Brookfield. Title created by Crown Grant, Wellington Land District, with boundaries along the Moores Valley stream system later known as Crowthers Creek. (brookfield.scouts.nz)
- 1867: Crowther appears in wardens and Crown Lands notices for Upper Wainui-o-mata, which aligns with freehold tenure being formalised in this period. Exact Grant number retrievable from the Crown Grants index. (nzpictures.co.nz)
- Later 19th to mid 20th century: Brookfield remains a Crowther residence, with photographs and references to Miss Crowther’s house at Brookfield captured in 1961. (National Library of New Zealand)
Wood Family Land
John Wood acquired land in the Moores Valley area of Wainuiomata shortly after arriving in New Zealand in 1855. Despite being only 25 at the time, he quickly became influential within the local community, serving as a road warden and juror between 1855 and his death in 1866. In 1857, he was one of the key petitioners advocating for the establishment of a local school and was appointed to its founding committee.
Timeline
- Woodlands homestead context: The Wood family property name Woodlands appears in local place-name work as a Wood family farm or house located toward the lower part of Wainuiomata Hill Road and Waiū Street. (nzpictures.co.nz)
- Northbrook and Wood family connection: Photographic records and local notes connect the Wood family to Northbrook in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, which helps correlate family residence against land titles in the same period. (digitalnz.org)
- c. late 1850s to early 1860s :The Wood family establish the homestead known as Woodlands near the lower Wainuiomata Hill Road and Waiū Street locality. Published booklet and place-name research confirm the name and siting. (National Library of New Zealand)
- Late nineteenth to early twentieth century
Wood family members appear in local photographic and narrative records associated with Northbrook and other homesteads, helping triangulate residence against titles for that period. (digitalnz.org)
Wainui‑o‑Mata Development Limited
In 1928, a group of Wellington businessmen formed Wainui-o-Mata Development Limited, acquiring around 1,600 hectares of farmland in the valley with the goal of creating a new residential township. To support this, they launched the ambitious Wainuiomata Tunnel project in 1932 to link the valley with the Hutt by road and, potentially, rail. Funded by land-and-profit bonds sold to investors, the plan stalled during the Great Depression, and the company went into suspension by 1934.
By 1939, bondholders took over, and in 1945 they were granted 135 acres in trust. Real growth came after World War II, when demand for housing surged. Wainuiomata quickly developed into an affordable family suburb, earning the nickname “Nappy Valley” during the 1950s. The company oversaw subdivisions in areas such as Homedale and Hair Street, helping shape the suburban layout still recognisable today.
Although the tunnel was never finished as a transport route, it was later used during WWII by the military and eventually repurposed in 1975 by the Wellington Regional Water Board for water infrastructure.
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