Gambia Street in the suburb of Papanui, Christchurch

Gambia Street in Papanui – formerly part of Loftus Street. Named after the HMNZS Gambia. HMNZS Gambia, launched in 1940, was New Zealand’s largest cruiser. It saw active service with the British Pacific Fleet during World War II. A Papanui war memorial street. First appears in street directories in 1946. Source: Papanui Heritage Group

A small amount of information from the library website. Very little on Papers Past as it was mostly ads, garden competitions and birth and death notices. Nothing about it being a memorial Avenue or the name change.

I checked old maps and from 1912 to 1941 it was Loftus Street and the street was straight. The map for 1958 shows it as Gambia Street and it is no longer a straight street. There is a kink in the street at the Frank Street intersection and it no longer lines up straight with Loftus Street. I have reread my write up for Loftus Street and I didn’t mention the street change in that write up.

I walked this street on Tuesday morning before my interview at Age Concern. I have put forward my name to be a Companion Walker.

There is a house here from 1920s and a couple from the 1930s but they didn’t stand out. Most of the houses here date from 2023 onwards and we all know my opinion of ugly modern houses.