WELLINGTON'S DISAPPEARING

MILITARY STRUCTURES

Wellington’s Vanishing Defence Heritage.

Content

Group 1 Structures /Pre 1910 Works

Group 2 Structures /Post 1910 Works

Introduction

The purpose of this document is to ascertain as to what extent
  military structures have been removed.  This list has been compiled
  from various sources.  These sites listed have been visited when there
  has been any possibility of any thing remaining.  With these visits if any
  thing remained then it was photographed as part of a project of mine to
  photograph military remains in the Wellington region.

This list contains structures that I know have existed at some
  time in the Wellington region since about the 1870’s (excluding
  stockades and Maori Pa’s).
  It is not complete due to the fact that some of the material relating to
  military works are unavailable at present for various reasons.
  Also I have not yet checked out locations of Pill Boxes and Stores
  (for US Forces).
  This list will be revised as more information comes to hand.
  Also available is a list of military remains in Wellington.

The entries are divided into two groups - Group 1 covers
 structures before about 1910 covering the period of
 ‘Russophobia’.  Group 2 includes structures built from about 1910 to
 the present day.  This includes structures built for both our military
 forces and the US forces ad well as some EPS associated structures.

The bulk of the structures that have disappeared are not
  surprising enough those from last century but those built during World
  War 2.  This is partly due to the fact that the sites reminded people of
  the war and hence loved ones they had lost during the war.  Also from
  the end of the war until as recent as the 1980’s numerous structures
  have been removed for safety reasons - especially those on public land.
 

 Darcy Waters

Group 1 Structures

The Group 1 structures are built before about 1910 .
  The first emplacements were built to defend the inner harbour and as
  both Weapons technology and strategic thinking changed our coastal
  defences crept further away from the inner harbour.

Ngauranga   - Fort Kelburn
    Built 1884-7, Demolished Sept. 1963.
    It was armed with Armstrong 6" disappearing breach loading
    guns. Built  out of bricks/masonry and iron reinforcing.
    It was photographed and surveyed by the PWD prior to
    its demolition for motorway works.

Mahanga Bay
  - Military Camp

  - Wharf
    ‘L’ shaped with a small crane at the elbow, It was built
    off a level clay filling that projected out with a right
    angle corner.

Point Gordon
    - Low Battery
     Built @1893 (not sure what type of armament)
     Demolished probably after World War 2. Its magazine - set in the hill
     as at late 1998 still existed although there
     have been attempts to seal it up.

Mt. Cook
   - Ordinance Workshop
     Before 1880 a corrugated ordinance workshop was
     built.  Most likely removed along with the 1916 built
     Ordinance Yard and its later additions either when they
     were shifted to Trentham.
 
   - Original Drill Shed.
     Erected 1880 at the then Constabulary Barracks
     Still in use 1907 when construction started on a new
     Drill Hall.  Removed when?

   -Alexandria Barracks
    1871 work started on a Prison (never had permanent
     inmates) which was never completed to originally
     planned extent out of bricks made by prisoners from the
     Terrace Goal.  It was 3 stories high at the rear plus
     basement.  The front part became Defence HQ before
     the Boer War and became entirely occupied by defence
     in 1901. It was demolished in 1927 to make way for the
     new Dominion Museum and Art Gallery.

   - Powder Magazine
     Built 1847 and used until the early 1880’s when
     the Kaiwarra Magazine in Ngaio Gorge was completed.
     It was still used in the 1920’s for artillery training and
     was most likely demolished for the new Dominion
     Museum and Art Gallery.

Central City
   - Defence HQ
     Built 1901 for the New Zealand Railways (NZR).
     Three story brick building on the corner of Bowen St.
     and Featherston St.  When the Railway Station was
     completed in 1938 NZR moved out and the
     Defence Dept. moved in.
     Demolished early 1980’s
 
  to top of page 
 

  Group 2 Structures

 The structures that are listed as Group 2 have all been built
     since about 1910. Only a limited amount of structures were built in
     Wellington between about 1910 and the outbreak of World War 2.
     These include the growth of Fort Dorset and the Trentham
     Army Camp and their associated structures.  Also there was some work
     done on Mount Cook partly due to the construction of the Dominion
     Museum and Art Gallery.  Also there was construction of a Battery and
     associated works at Palmer Heads (which was along with other existing
     sites expanded or modified during World War 2).
During World War 2 a massive building program took place
     which saw Gun emplacements, Pill boxes, Observation posts and such
     like appear all over the place.
     In Wellington many of these structures have been demolished
     for safety reasons. Wellington City Council was even as late as the
    1980’s all for the removal of military remains but now wants to see
    some of them preserved.
 

Petone    - Drill hall, Pattie St
     Brought by the Army in 1927.
     Final Parade held Sunday October 15 2000.

Johnsonville    - Anti-Aircraft Battery
     Built 1942.  2 emplacements fully completed, A
     third partly completed while only the foundations
     laid for the forth.
     Most likely demolished when the land was used for
     housing.

   - Fortress Camps (2)
     December 1941 2 canvas camps were established in Johnsonville -
     1 for the 13th Field Ambulance  on the old Johnsonville
     School and 1 for a Battalion strength unit on the
     Recreation ground.  April-October 1942 saw numerous
     buildings and huts erected for the Battalion strength
     camp while in July 1942 the 13th Field Ambulance camp
     was also upgraded.  Also a water main was laid from
     Khandallah.  Later on the camp was used for a short
     time by US forces.
     Some huts and a store were taken to the camp on
     the Nairn St. Park and the rest removed.

Khandallah    - Fortress Camp
     Built 1942 on Nairnville Park.
     It was a Phase 1 camp (consisting of cooking, l
     laundry, ablutions and mess-rooms built of wood while
     prefab. huts or tents used for sleeping and utilities
     provided to cover bare minimum requirements).  It was
     removed after the war.
   - Camp
     Nairnville Park, Built 1942 a phase 1 camp was built
     and a existing Gymnasium converted (possibly today’s
     community recreation centre.  Portable huts used for
     sleeping.  Removed and the Park reinstated after the
     war.

Kaiwharawhara    - Camp
     Built 1942 on the Kaiwarra Park. It was a Phase 1 camp. With a
     recreation hall added shortly after. It was used
     by the US Marines until 1944. Personnel were
     then transferred from the camp at Haitaitai that
     accommodated NZ Army Territorial Force personnel.
     March 1945 a Army signals unit was shifted from
     Nairnville Park and WAAC's were also accommodated.

Wadestown     - Anti-Aircraft Gun
     Located above and behind Fort Buckley probably to help
     cover Kaiwarra/ lower Ngaio Gorge (and the fuel tanks
     in them).  Removed when no longer needed.  Most likely
     of small calibre.

Tinakori Hills    - Anti-Aircraft Battery
     Built 1942 on Tinakori Hill.  The 3.7” Battery consisting of 4 gun
     emplacements, Command post and quarters for battery
     personnel.  The camp was removed after the war while
     the emplacements and Command post were demolished
     in 1969 in the interest of public safety.

Karori    - Construction Camp; Battery camp
     Built 1942 at the then south end of Campbell St. to
     accommodate construction crews for the 9.2” battery
     being built atop Wrights Hill.  Later used to
     accommodate battery personnel. Removed when ?.

Kelburn    - Camp
     Work started June 1942 on a camp At Anderson Park.
     Occupied from June 1942 until January 1944 by the US
     Navy.  January 1944 some structures were shifted from
     the camp at Central Park including huts.  From then until
     April 1946 the RNZAF used the camp as a
     demobilisation depot.  During April and May 1946 many
     structures were shifted to the Transit Camp in Miramar

Brooklyn     -  Camp
     At Central Park work started Oct./Nov. 1942 on a camp
     to house US Marines.  It was occupied by November
     22nd 1942.
     The camp consisted of 25 buildings and 116 huts
     with additions and alterations and was fully complete by
     July 1943.
     About January 1944 some structures were shifted to
     Anderson Park and the rest removed with the
     park being reinstated.

Newtown    - Camp
     At Nairn St. Park.  Initially a canvas camp it was
     upgraded to a using huts camp in September 1942.  In
     July 1942 it was extended to accommodate WAAC’s.
     Later on a store and some huts were brought over from
     Johnsonville.

         - Emergency Wing - Wellington Hospital
         A 100 bed, two story wooden building was built for
     military use during WW2It was opened in 1941.
     It was demolished to make way for new buildings

    - Area 5 HQ
     Winter Show Grounds.  In December 1941 a base camp
     was set up which supplied other NZ camps around
     Wellington as well as providing boot repairs and
     workshops.  Initially guards for the area were housed
     here for some months until they were relocated.  Also
     accommodated was a signal company and a Army troop
     company.  This resulted in a considerable increase in
     facilities including numerous buildings as well as a
     Phase 1 camp on the flat areas of the grounds.
     In July 1942 approval was given to accommodate the
     whole of Area 5 personnel complete with
     buildings plus the erection of a canteen and a YMCA.
     It was removed after the war and the buildings restored.
 

To top of page.
 

Melrose    - School of Artillery
     The Karitane Hospital was taken over and alterations
     and additions authorised in April 1942.  The additions
     consisted of 2 lecture rooms, ablutions and 4 15ft x 8ft
     portable huts. Also added was 16 more portable huts.
     In July 1942 Melrose park was taken over and had a gun
     park, store, accommodation for a guard unit and a
     lecture room (added later that year.)
     The school was shifted July-December 1943 to
     Plimmerton and the park and hospital being handed
     back.

Hataitai   - Camp, Hataitai Park
   From 1941 until March 1942 the 1st Wellington
     Regiment was occupying Wellington College.
     March 1942 they moved to a camp on Hataitai park.
     Latrine blocks, shower and ablution blocks, laundry and
     cooking facilities were built.  Sleeping huts were also
     included. Later on mess halls,cook houses and store
     facilities were added.
     September 1943 Army vacated and part of the camp
     was used to accommodate defence workers.
     Demolished September 1944.
 

Mt. Victoria     - Anti-Aircraft Battery.
       At the outbreak of WW2  2 semi mobile guns were put on
       Mt. Victoria with a tented camp. The camp was later
       replaced with a phase 1 camp.  The 3.7" Heavy AA
       battery construction work (the plans were received for it  in
       March 1942) was advanced enough so that in June 1942 the
       guns were installed and the camp expanded to accommodate
       a total of 176 personnel.
       Demolished about May 1970.
 
Mount Cook
      - Houses -No.'s 213 and 215 Taranaki St
      Sold by defence Dept mid 1996.
      Removed between 18th August and 3rd September 2001

      - Prefab Buildings 217 Taranaki St
      Ex Defence Dept, (located behind 213 and 215 Taranaki St)
      Last used by a education group
      Removed Between 18th August and 5th September 2001

    - Prefab buildings, Dominion Museum grounds
     Erected during the war as part of the Combined Forces
     HQ that was occupying the Dominion Museum during
     the war.
     Removed when no longer needed.

   - Buildings E side existing DoD reserve
     On the site of the current workshops there existed a ‘L’
     shaped block.  Built when ?.
     Demolished about 1969/1970.

   - Drill Hall
     The Foundation stone was laid on the 1st of June 1907
     for a Army Drill Hall immediately west of the old drill shed.
     Under the drill hall was 3 x 25 yard long shooting
     ranges. From about 1930 there was a armoury in the
     ground floor Buckle/Taranaki St. corner until 1970.
     It was demolished in the 1980’s.
     Probably other buildings removed in this area.
     Built when? for what? Gone when?

Te Aro    - US Navy Barracks
     Boat Harbour - Oriental Parade.
     Erected  1942 the work included single story buildings
     above existing boat sheds (which they used).  and  two
     story buildings. These provided a sick bay,
     accommodation and working/repair facilities.  Also fuel
     tanks and fuelling points were added.
     After the US Forces left the buildings were used as a
     hostel for accommodating Junior Officers of the Public
     Service.
 

Te Aro     - Anti Submarine Mining Base and
               Mine Sweeping Base
     Established at Clyde Quay.
     The first work done was a fuel tank and pump for the
     Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service. (They moored at the
     western end of the boat harbour.).  On Harbour Board
     land a store and battery building was authorised
     January/February 1942 followed by a W/T store.  July
     1942 a building was authorised for a HQ, Armoury
     Quarters etc. for the Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service.
     At the end of 1942 temporary facilities were erected for
     the servicing of Fairmile and Harbour Defence launches.
     Also a Phase 1 camp was established at the end of
     Chaffers St.

Central City
   - Defence Dept.
     Built about World War 2.
     2 story prefabricated building on the corner of Bunny St.
     and Featherston St.  Its front doors were directly
     opposite the front doors to the railway station across the
     road.
     Demolished about August 1994.

- Base records
    Was housed in a building at 220 Thorndon Quay.
    Front door Had "Army Dept Base Records" on it
    Building converted to apartments and retain during 1998.

Point Gordon
   - Various
     - Defence Housing located in the barracks area of Fort Ballence.
       Removed 1980’s
     - Defence house used by caretaker just below Fort Ballance removed mid 2004.
     - Fire directors tower demolished 18th November 1959.
     - Emplacements, Bunkers, Pill Boxes and similar on the
       foreshore and near the road were demolished 1970.

Seatoun

Fort Dorset and Associated -
   (see also Fort Dorset site profile)
   - Emplacements, Point Dorset
     2 x 6” gun Battery.  Construction started 1908
     demolished early 1960’s
     Steeples Rock Battery  (2 gun 12pdr) demolished 1960’s

  - Camp area, Fort Dorset
   (see also Fort Dorset site profile)
    - Hobby hut/Squash courts - demolished Early June 1999.
    - Officers Mess and Kereru, Tiwaiwaka (officers quarters).
     demolished Aug./Sept. 1999
    - 22(D)Battery HQ, Q Store and Gun Bays.
    - All camp buildings south of the parade ground.
    - Remaining Camp buildings demolished September-December 2001

Palmer Heads
   - Coastal Battery
     3 x 6” Counter Bombardment Battery.
     Emplacements, camp and searchlight battery
     demolished between somewhere during the 1960’s.
     Some of the underground works remain intact.

Every where
   - Air Raid Shelters
    Built or made under the Emergency Precautions Scheme
    (EPS) on public and private land of several types.  These
    included Surface shelter, Timber trench, Slit trench,
    tunnels, Internal-buildings and even converted garages.

  - Pill Boxes & Road blocks/Check points and Field Defence Works.
    Built all over the place.  Removed from near the end
    of the war up to as late as the 1980’s.
 

  WELLINGTONS DISAPPEARING MILITARY STRUCTURES
Wellington’s Vanishing Defence Heritage
© Darcy Waters 1999-2004