Author Archives: lytteltonwitch

Ravenna St in Avonhead – Probably named after Ravenna, a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. First appears in street directories in 1966. A tiny amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name of the street. Most houses were built in the 1950s and 1960s. There …

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Rosedale Place in Avonhead – nothing on library website which was surprising as the houses were built in 1960s and 1970s. I couldn’t find out how the street got it’s name. Papers Past mostly had ads for the sale of houses and sections. The sections were for sale between 1967 and 1969 and usually described …

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Conway St in Somerfeld – Named after Conway Lucas Rose (1817-1910).Rose and his family arrived on the Midlothian in 1851. He purchased Rural Section 76, 700 acres on the “Lower Lincoln Road, Heathcote Bridge” in partnership with Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer (1798-1857). He served as a magistrate for the Province of Canterbury in 1853. …

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Deloraine St in Somerfield – Named on 29 March 1956. [An earlier name tentatively approved but not pursued was Delamain Street.] A tiny amount of information from the library website. There is a street in Yaldhurst with the name Delamain and the Delamain family lived in Yaldhurst. The only Deloraine that I could find was …

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Strauss Place in Somerfield – Part of Frankleigh Street. Probably named after the Strauss family. The Strauss family was an Austrian family renowned for its musical compositions. First appears in street directories in 1987. A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name of the street. …

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Roberta Drive in Somerfield – In a subdivision developed by Maurice F. Carter Ltd. The name has no particular significance. It just “sounded nice”. Named in 1960. Information about naming supplied in 2009 by Maurice Carter (d. 2011) in an interview with Margaret Harper. A small amount of information from the library website and nothing …

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Nina Lane in Somerfield – Named after the Nina, one of the sailing ships in Christopher Columbus’ voyage to America in 1492. Developed at 86 Conway Street. Named in 1999. A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name of the street. There are only 5 …

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Merle Place in Somerfield – Named after Pauline Merle Carter (1915- 2008) Merle Carter was the wife of Maurice Carter, builder and developer. He developed and named this street. Named in 1960.Information supplied in 2008 by Maurice Carter (d. 2011) in an interview with Margaret Harper. A small amount of information on the library website …

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Leistrella Road in Hoon Hay – First appears in street directories in 1951. A tiny amount of information from the library website and I couldn’t find out how the street got it’s name. Papers Past had ads in 1962 and 1966 for the sale of sections. There were a few birth and death notices. The …

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Muirson Ave in Hoon Hay – Named after Reginald Gordon Vivian Muirson (1913-1990). Muirson was a builder of “spec” houses in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. First appears in street directories in 1952. Muirson’s dates supplied in 2008 by Marie Shears, formerly Woolley. A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that …

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