Author Archives: lytteltonwitch

Coachman Lane and nothing on the library website. I didn’t walk this street and it looked like it was a driveway to one house but going by QV website there are 10 houses here. Most built in 1970s but one was built in 1950. Couldn’t find out how the lane got the name and it …

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Hawford Rd – Named after Hawford, the home there of Dr John Shearing Willis (1807- 1869). Willis emigrated as surgeon-superintendent on the Isabella Hercus in 1851 and took up Rural Section 38, 100 acres on the “River Heathcote, near Christchurch Quay”. He built a house in 1860 which he named Hawford. In 1882 his son, …

Continue reading “Hawford Road in the suburb of Opawa, Christchurch”

Locarno Street – Formerly Church Road. Named because St. Mark’s Anglican Sunday School (later St. Mark’s School) is in this street. Re-named Locarno Street. Named after Locarno in Switzerland. Church Lane first appears in street directories in 1904. Becomes Church Road in 1914. Re-named Locarno Street on 24 May 1926 when 21 streets were re-named. …

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Andybrae Lane – – Named by the developer who wished to honour his Scottish origins and also his father. The developer’s father was named Andrew. A private right-of-way, not a legal road. Named in 1993. A reasonable amount of information from the library website and I can add nothing to it. I didn’t actually walk …

Continue reading “Andybrae Lane in the suburb of St Martins, Christchurch”

Reeves Rd – Named after the Honourable William Reeves (1825-1891). Reeves was a politician and the chief proprietor of The Lyttelton Times 1861-1891. He was also a director of the New Zealand Shipping Company and a member of the Legislative Council 1884-1891. He was the father of William Pember Reeves (1857- 1932) and lived at …

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Therese Street – First mentioned in The Press in 1927. First appears in street directories in 1930.A small amount of information from the library website and I found the same article from 1927 and it was about laying drains and sewers. In the 1930s there was a plot of land for relief workers in grow …

Continue reading “Therese Street in the suburb of Spreydon, Christchurch”

Yale Street – Named on 29 March 1956. Not a lot of information from the library website. I couldn’t find any extra information but it looks like this short street was developed at 55 to 59 Wychbury Street. Going by QV website most houses are from 1950s with a couple of more modern houses. A …

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Rahera Street – nothing on library website. I was surprised that this street wasn’t mentioned on the library website as it has been around since the 1960s. The QV website has most houses dated from 1960s with a few from 1970 to 1990. The newer houses are mostly on back sections. Mostly neat and tidy …

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Beanland Ave – Named after John Walton Beanland (1868-1943). Beanland was a building contractor and the mayor of Christchurch 1936- 1938. Named in 1938 at the request of the Government Housing Department. First appears in street directories in 1938.A reasonable amount of information from the library website. Nothing that I can really add to this. …

Continue reading “Beanland Avenue in the suburb of Spreydon, Christchurch”

Winsor Crescent – Named after William Hinnels Winsor (1876- 1936). Winsor was mayor of Spreydon 1916-1918 and a Christchurch city councillor 1920-1925. A crescent-shaped street developed in a government housing subdivision. Named in 1937.A reasonable amount of information from the library website and nothing much that I can add. The same article from April 1938 …

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