Gollans Valley, located in the hills between Eastbourne and Wainuiomata is the only property in Wainuiomata with an Eastbourne address. It has a long and layered history tied to both colonial settlement and regional conservation efforts. It was named after Donald Matheson Gollan, an early leaseholder under the New Zealand Company in the 1840s. Although Gollan never lived there, the valley retained his name and became associated with farming and grazing over the decades that followed.
During the early twentieth century, the valley was actively farmed by local families, most notably the Burdan family, who managed land there from around 1915 until 1963. The Burdans were long-time residents of the Wainuiomata Coast Road area and were known for their involvement in agriculture throughout the district.
For much of its modern history, Gollans Valley was privately owned and operated as a legacy sheep and cattle station. This remained the case for around sixty years until 2025, when Greater Wellington Regional Council purchased the 1,366-hectare property. The aim of the acquisition was to preserve the area’s ecological value, protect native bush and wetlands, and eventually make it accessible to the public as part of the regional parks network.
The valley forms part of a significant ecological corridor, linking separate sections of East Harbour Regional Park. It supports a diverse range of native flora and fauna and contains remnants of lowland forest, regenerating bush, and wetlands. The property’s conservation value, combined with its strategic location, made it a key acquisition for long-term environmental management and recreational planning.
Today, Gollans Valley is transitioning from private farmland to protected parkland. While public access is still limited pending planning and consultation, it is set to become a vital part of Wellington’s green belt, offering future generations a chance to explore a landscape that reflects both its farming heritage and growing ecological importance.
