Hardy Street in the suburb of New Brighton, Christchurch

Hardy St in New Brighton – Formerly Thomas Street. Named after Thomas Raine (1820-1907) of Rainestown. Re-named Hardy Street. Named after Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy (1769-1839)Thomas Street does not appear in street directories but land for sale there is advertised in the Star in 1885. Re-named Hardy Street at a special meeting of the New Brighton Council on 12 August 1907. Harry Hawker (1868-1947), a councillor 1905-1909, had suggested that New Brighton street names be changed to the names of British sea captains who had fought in the 18th and 19th century – a gesture linking Christchurch with the home country, was patriotic and emphasised the fact that New Brighton was a sea side suburb. Hardy was famed as Nelson’s flag captain at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805

A reasonable amount of information from the library website. A few entries on Papers Past but mostly death notices. In the 1890s there were complaints to the Road Board about the state of the street especially from Mr Baker who said that he had trouble accessing his new house. In 1890 Mr G Sadler placed an ad to say that he would prosecute anyone taking sand from his property. Miss E Shaw had a boarding house known as Kent House. From 1913 onwards the Presbyterian Hall is mentioned a few times. After 1929 it is referred to as St Enoch’s Hall. In 1953 the power boat club had new club rooms on the corner of Owles Tce and Hardy St. A manual training school was opened in 1956. Who here is old enough to remember these schools.

Most the houses on this street were built in the 1970s but there are still two cottages from 1905 but I personally liked the house from 1920s. There are shops at the Seaview Rd end of the street opposite the museum which is in the old church. I will have to go back and visit the museum as it wasn’t open when I walked past. At the other end of the street is a Montessori school. A couple of the houses looked a bit rundown but overall it was a pleasant street.

I was amused that the street changed it’s name from Thomas St to Hardy St.