Story: Wellington region
In 1865 Wellington finally received what many citizens had considered its birthright: the role of capital city. However, the town had little room for new growth. This led the provincial and central governments to jointly fund a 51-hectare reclamation of Lambton Harbour from Customhouse Quay to Pipitea Point. By the early 1870s the project had reached the northern end of Lambton Quay – identified in this photograph by the line of buildings along the water’s edge. The two-storey building with the tower is Government House (where the governor lived). Immediately behind is Parliament, with St Mary’s Catholic Church to the left.
About this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Mr & Mrs F Hodgkins Collection
Reference: PAColl-7949-07
Photograph by James Francis Meadows
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
