Cedars Street in the suburb of Hoon Hay, Christchurch

Cedars Street in Hoon Hay – Gee Street was incorporated into Cedars Street. Gee Street first appears in street directories in 1955. Cedars Street first appears in 1957. The section running from

Mathers Road was named Cedars Street; the section running from Kevin Street was named Gee Street. Gee Street was incorporated into Cedars Street on 20 July 1970. Date of re-naming of Gee Street supplied in 2008 by Bob Pritchard, subdivisions officer, Christchurch City Council.

A reasonable amount of information from the library website. I checked Papers Past but couldn’t find a reason for the name of the street. Also didn’t find it as a surname of anyone in Christchurch. I also thought that it might have been the name of a house that was on the street and Cedar House was a common house name but didn’t find one in this area.

A few entries on Papers Past and in 1955 the new Hoon Hay Domain was accessible from Gee St. There was also a Gee St in New Brighton. Sections available in 1955. There were also sections available on Cedars St in 1955 and they were Crown land sections which is balloted. In 1969 the council resolved that the road reserve between 19 and 20 Cedars St is redundant and the land to be subdivided into two sections. A walkway to be formed between Cedars St and Downing St. Walkway is still there. There were sections available in 1971 and 1972 and then there were more sections available in 1983.

I looked at a map from 1958 and Gee St ran between Waters St and Kevin St. There was a reserve separating the two streets. The reserve was on only one side of the street and on the other side there was a large property. The house on this property dates from 1880 but I couldn’t find out any information about it. I suspect that the streets were gradually formed from this property.

The street is a mess at the moment as it is being dug up for new pipes to be laid. Most houses here were built in either 1950s or 1970s and they didn’t really stand out for me. What did stand out for me was the house from 1880 and it is lovely. There used to be a childcare business that was in a private home in this street just over 40 years ago. I used this childcare business for my older son whenever I had work. I did casual relief work for the Post Office.

Edited as I found the Gee family who lived in this area. William George Alfred Gee with his wife Bessie lived on Tankerville Rd. His son George Gee with his wife Winifred also lived on Tankerville Rd. His son William Ernest Loveday Gee who was married twice lived at 23 Hoon Hay Rd and was living at 3 Wyn St when he died.