Winston Avenue in the suburb of Papanui, Christchurch

Winston Avenue in Papanui- Formerly Railway Street. Named because of its proximity to the Main North Railway line. Re-named Winston Avenue. Named after The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965). Railway Street first appears in street directories in 1927. Re-named Winston Avenue in 1940 in response to a petition from 20 residents of Railway Street. Churchill was a British statesman, author and prime minister.A reasonable of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the naming of the street. I found the same information about the renaming of the street. I suspect that the old Railway Station was on Railway Street but this part of Railway Street is now part of Restell St. I would have to find old maps to prove my theory.There were several Railway Streets including one near Tuam Street plus every little town had a Railway Street. In 1924 there were many ads offering shop and business sites. In 1929 the two story factory belonging to Direct Milking Supply Company was damaged by fire. This seemed to be the main business on this street. The street seemed to have a mixture of residences and businesses. In 1927 the local council received a letter from a Mr J Joyce requesting that the street be planted with trees and that the name of the street bbe changed to Bailey’s Ave. Reply was not up to council but that the residents who live in the streets can decide. Made me wonder if Mr J Joyce didn’t actually live in the street. In 1928 a resident was offering classes in Highland Dancing.In 1928 there was discussion about a short lane be extended to join Langdon’s Road to Railway Street. This apparently would require an Act of Parliament before acquiring the land. In 1932 the discussion was about acquiring the land at the back of the police station for this project. I looked up Restell St and it is highly likely this street is the result of these discussions which is why the old railway station is now on this street.In 1935 the police station here was closed and the reason given was the amount of sickness suffered by families living in the police house. New premises to be on St James St.Couldn’t find much mention of the street on Papers Past once it became Winston Ave.The street only has businesses on it it these days and there is also a large empty section that is for sale. I personally thought that it looked rather rundown especially at the Restell St end. Thought that a photo of the old Railway Station would be good even if technically the station is now on a street with a different name

A Wikipedia page about Papanui has the police moving to St James Ave in 1949 but Papers Past has it moving in 1935. I have found out that the old police station was opposite the railway station so my theory about the railway station being on the original Railway St is looking more solid. Note Wikipedia also have Winston Ave spelt wrong and they have added an e to it.