Mount Victoria (Wellington hill)
Hill in Wellington, New Zealand From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mount Victoria, also known as Matairangi and colloquially as Mt Vic, is a prominent 196-metre (643 ft) hill immediately to the east of central Wellington, New Zealand. About 4 kilometres due south is a spur named Mount Albert and the two are linked by a ridge. Mount Victoria gives its name to the suburb of Mount Victoria to the west. It is bounded by the suburbs of Oriental Bay to the north, Roseneath and Hataitai to the east and Newtown to the south of the suburb of Mount Victoria. Constable Street, Newtown and Wellington Road, Hataitai mark the southern boundary.
| Mount Victoria | |
|---|---|
 Mount Victoria seen from Oriental Bay | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 196 m (643 ft) |
| Coordinates | 41.296056°S 174.796083°E |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | North Island, New Zealand |
Mount Victoria's original Māori name is Tangi Te Keo,[1] though Matairangi is also used.[2] The first name derives from a legend in which two taniwha tried to escape from Wellington Harbour which was then an enclosed lake. One taniwha became stranded and died, and its spirit turned into a bird named Te Keo, which flew to the top of the mountain and mourned (tangi).[1] The second name translates as "to examine the sky".[3]
New Zealand Company - Town Belt
Mount Victoria is within the area of land set aside when Wellington was laid out in 1840 by the New Zealand Company to form access to green areas for all the towns citizens. It was intended to be a "broad belt of land," the Wellington Town Belt, "which ... the Company intends to be public property, on condition that no buildings ever be erected upon it".[4]
In May 1877 a letter from a Wellington resident was published in the New Zealand Times which pointed out that lessees of the Town Belt, including Mount Victoria, did not have the right to lease the land, and fencing should not be erected by them on the land as it was open to the public. This appears to have ignored by the Council as in June it was announced that some almost 900 acres of the Town Belt were to be leased for 14 years, including almost 70 acres on Mount Victoria.[5][6]
In July 1897 the Mayor, Francis Bell, put forward a scheme whereby most of the eastern side of the town belt being some 267 acres, except the top of Mount Victoria and Newtown Park, would be sold in exchange for acquiring the Miramar Peninsula and turning that area into a replacement park.[7] At the Council meeting in August his ideas were discussed and after a vote the proposed sale of the town belt land was declined.[8]
The Provincial Government took under the Wellington City Reserves Act 1872 143 acres town belt at Mount Victoria in 1872 for what is now Wellington College in 1874, and Wellington Hospital including a Lunatic Asylum in 1876.[9] A further 5 acres were set apart for the Signal Station under the Second Schedule of the Act. In 1909 2.5 acres was set aside for a water reservoir to service the housing areas on the higher slopes of Mount Victoia in the suburbs of Mount Victoria, Oriental Bay, and Roseneath.[10] This was followed by Central Government taking land for Government House in 1910, and Wellington East Girls' College in 1925.
The South Wellington Fire Station on Constable Street was built on the Town Belt.[11]
Scenic and recreational use
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Mount Victoria was used for casual and organised walks from the early days of Wellington's settlement.[12] The view of Wellington and its surrounds was already notable by 1846.
From that elevation, the scenic effects are superb; hill, dale, and water are spread out in infinite variety and majesty. Wellington is completely commanded from this sublime birdseve view; the full extent of the valley of the Hutt, with its clustering tiers of lordly mountains, lies open to your ken. Evans' Bay, with the adjacent sheet of Burnham water, glanced blue and beautiful in the glorious sunlight; whilst,. harbour-wards, the towering spars and square I yards of the men-of-war appeared to be diminished to mere whip-sticks. It was, truly, a heavenly day.
— Voyager, "From North Cape to the Bluff - 1846", New Zealander, volume XIX, issue 1863, page 3 (11 April 1863)[13]
In 1901 Jessie Mackay, writing in the Otago Witness, gave a description in a poetic manner of the panoramic view from the summit by the Signal Station. The climb was described as steep, the Kaikōura Ranges obscured by haze, Lyall Bay, Kilbirnie, Berhampore, Brooklyn were all in view with Mackay commenting on the steepness of the slopes on which the city was being built. The views of Te Aro flat and Thorndon are also described with the Manawatu railway line diving into the hills in the north of the city. Further around the view of the Hutt Valley, Tararua Range, Remutaka Range, and Matiu / Somes Island.[14]
The first event recorded on Mount Victoria was a running race from the summit to The New Zealander, Mr Jenkins public bar, on Te Aro Flat in January 1844. A harrier club, the Wellington Beagles, in 1886 used the ridge from Kilibirnie to the top of Mount Victoria as part of their long distance run. Harrier clubs have continued to use the area for their runs.[15][16][17][18]
In 1913 there was heated debate over the lease of a portion of town belt near Pirie Street to a tennis club. Those opposed saw it as a piecemeal cutting up of the reserve to exclusive interests while those in favour saw it as improving the area and opening it for other such sporting and recreational users. One of the points raised was the need for a comprehensive development plan for the Town Belt. The Mayor, J P Luke, stated in an October meeting that Mr Murdoch the City Engineer was reviewing a usage plan for 40 acres of the Town Belt.[19] No further mention of the plan was made and in 1920 Councillors asked the Reserves Committee prepare a layout for the entire of Mount Victoria, including the road from Constable Street to the summit and a tennis court development.[20]
Two professional golfers, Messrs W B Simpson and Watt, had suggested in 1915 that land on Mount Victoria could be suitable for a golf Course. They preferred this land over the proposed links in Berhampore.[21] A short while later the Dominion reported that Simpson did not like the Mount Victoria and eventually Berhampore was settled on.[22]
Wind
Wellington is prone to strong winds and the top of Mount Victoria is completely exposed.[23] Frank Morton writing in the Manawatu Standard in 1909 described the wind on reaching the top of Mount Victoria on a particularly unpleasant day as being like.coming butt up against a very stalwart ox running full-speed down-hill. It was the sort of wind that blows a man's eyes into his head while it gives him a clean shave. He also described the best way to calculate the wind velocity on Mount Victoria was to take the wind speed in Willis Street, a street in commercial district of Wellington, and multiply it by a factor of 10.[24]
On 13 October 1883 part of the flagstaff at the Signal Station was destroyed in a severe gale.[25]
Roads and tracks
From the 1870's there was a track running roughly north-south from Mount Victoria, along the ridge to Constable Street, Newtown and then across the road to Mount Albert.[26] Another track from a similar time ran from Pirie Street, across Mount Victoria's southern ridge to Kilbirnie.[27] With the opening up of Hataitai for development the developers explored ways of connecting the suburb to the city by either a tunnel or a road across Mount Victoria. The suggested road, which would have been near the Pirie Street track, was considered but deemed to step to be practical by the City Council.[28] In 1903 approval was given to the developers for a road from Elizabeth Street, Mount Victoria to Kilbirnie through the Town Belt.[29]
Access to Roseneath from Oriental Bay was created by a right of way extending Grass Street across the Town Belt to The Crescent, Roseneath in 1891. The main route to Roseneath was up Maidavale Road to Grafton Road and The Crescent.[30] In 1910 a tram route was considered from Majoribanks Strret above Oriental Bay across to Roseneath.[31] By 1913 a road was described as being from Hawker Street to Roseneath.[32]
Prior to July 1899 a cutting had been made at the top of Constable Street, Newtown through the Town Belt to connect Newtown and Kilbirnie by Road. The cutting divided the ridge to Mount Victoria from the ridge to Mount Albert. Constable Street is dated from around 1871 when the it was used to bring materials across for the construction of the patent slip at Kilbirnie.[33][34]
In 1898 a correspondent to the local paper suggested that a carriage road should be created from Kilbirnie to the signal station on Mount Victoria.[35] Four years later, in 1902, The Wellington Tree Planting and Preservation Society approached the Council requesting a road be made to the top of Mount Victoria along the ridge from Constable Street to the Signal Station at the summit.[36] This request was unsuccessful. They did however get consent to create a walking track from Majoribanks Street to the summit, along the line of an earlier track in that location. They completed the track in 1904.[37]
In July 1909 the City Engineer proposed making a carriageway along the ridge from Constable Street to the Mount Victoria summit.[38] Council approved commencing the work July as a means to provide relief to the unemployed in City.[39] By 14 September the road had been completed bar metalling and some finishing work, including completing its link with Constable Street.[40] The road remained incomplete for some years - named Alexander Road by 1912.
Vegetation
In 1880 the Council began plantings of pines on the western face of Mount Victoria.[41] By 1888 gorse had become a significant problem in the areas of Mount Victoria that were used for grazing prompting requests for it to be brought under control due to it being a fire hazard. Occasional fires did break out bringing danger to adjoining houses.[42][43]
In 1895 comment was made about the barren slopes of Mount Victoria and suggested Australian Wattle should be planted on it.[44] The Council began planting some 500 trees and fence some 12 acres overlooking Oriental Bay.[45] The planted area was partially destroyed by a grass fire in 1907.[46] In 1908 the Council began planting scrubs and trees on the Oriental Bay side of Mount Victoria as well as undertaking clearance of scrub and Gorse.[47]
The 1909 Mayoral election included a debate over planting and walking tracks on Mount Victoria between Dr Alfred Newman advocating them and some of the others suggesting it was a waste of time and that workers cottages should be built there instead.[48][49] Dr Newman outlined a scheme to replant the whole of Mount Victoria, among other areas such as Tinakori Hill, as part of his platform.[50]
On 3 June Council requested 30 acres of Mount Victoria be planted in eucalyptus, acacias, and native trees in the vicinity behind the public hospital.[51] Most of the planting was completed by September. In July, for Arbor Day, students from Clyde Quay School planted trees behind Shannon Street on Mount Victoria.[52] Planting continued off and on up to 1913 with mixed success.[53] A further major planting took place in 1916 with 70,000 trees being planted on the eastern slopes of Mount Victoria.[54]
Mysteries and oddities
- In 1852 some children playing near the top of the hill came across a human skeleton. It was believed to have been that of a Maori lady and to have been there many years.[55]
- On what is now Brougham Street, there was an estimated 20 foot deep hole called locally Drans-feldts Lug or the Devils Ear. It was reported in the paper in 1870, but had been there for many years prior.[56]
- In 1878 a Roman coin from Julius Caesar's time was found buried about two feet under the ground on Mount Victoria. Its origins were unknown.[57]
- In the 1893 New Zealand general election, on being challenged as to his sincerity and fitness to stand, William Thomas Locke Travis challenged his opponents who were over 30 years age to walk with him up the steepest track to the top of Mount Vicotris. The story of this challenge was picked up in numerous newspapers throughout New Zealand. Travis lost the election to Robert Stout and came last overall. As to the Mount Victoria challenge, no mention of it being accepted was made in the papers.[58][59]
- Two-up was played in and behind the plantations on Mount Victoria in the days before Hataitai was developed.[60]
- In 1909 youths with pea rifles were starting to cause a nuisance to people walking on Mount Victoria and neighbouring houses.[61]
- The placing of windmills for generating electricity on Mount Victoria were suggested in the 1911 General Election.[62]
- In 1920 Mount Victoria was being considered as one of the potential sites for a National War Memorial.[63]
Farming
Sheep and cattle were casually farmed on Mount Victoria for a number years from the 1850's. In December 1864 the Town Board sought tenders to rent some 70 acres of the Mount Victoria Reserve for 14 years.[6] In 1880 an almost 27 acre block around the Signal Station was put up for pastoral lease with a 14 year term.[64] All the leases that remained at the end of 1911 were terminated by the Council.[65]
Military
Under the Militia Ordinance of 1845 a Militia was formed in Wellington. It undertook occasional training and on one occurrence had to drag a heavy cannon up to the summit of Mount Victoria.[66] Soldiers of the 65th Regiment were stationed at Mt Cook barracks in Wellington. They were involved in fire fighting around the township while stationed there, including a bush fire on Mount Victoria in 1851.[67] The eastern side of Mt Victoria was used by the Militia for target practice in 1860.[68] By 1863 the Militia was also joined by Volunteers who practiced skirmishing on Mount Victoria under Major Edward Gorton's instruction.[69]
In 1884 and 1885 the Signaling Squad of the Wellington Guards used Mount's Victoria and Albert for signalling practice.[70] Field exercises were held on Mount Victoria in 1900 by the Wellington Rifle Battalion.[70] These were followed in 1906 by further signalling practices by the Submarine Mining Corps and the Post and Telegraph Rifles signalers.[71] A further field exercise took place in September over the area from Miramar isthmus to the ridges of Mount Victoria and Mount Albert utilizing the entire Wellington Garrison including college cadets, Defense Rifle Clubs, and other volunteer units.[72] In September 1909 another field exercise took place on the Mount Victoria ridge during the night with companies of the Wellington Volunteers opposing one another.[73] The 5th Regiment carried out training maneuvers on Mount Victoria just after the commencement of World War One.[74]
The installation of a couple of heavy cannons and machine guns on the Mount Victoria overlooking the inner harbour were suggested in 1886. This suggestion arose out of the Russian scares of the 1870-1880 period. At the time this article was published the Russian cruiser Vestnik was visiting Wellington. A focus at the time was also on the defense of Wellington in case of landings on the south coast. Major-General Henry Schaw, CB (1829—1902), Royal Engineers, stated in a lecture on cities defense that Mount Victoria would be a strategic target for any such invading force.[75][76]
In July 1912 the Pipitea Point battery was directed by the City Council to be moved to Mount Victoria.[77]
Gold
In 1863 a Mr Haybittle reported finding gold on Mount Victoria and on the beach below.[78] Nothing further was published until 1870 when the Wellington Independent reported that a drive of 100 feet had been driven in on the Evans Bay side of Mount Victoria in the hope of finding a gold bearing quartz reef. This was hoped to be linked to the one at Ngauranga.[79]
Signal station
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In 1866 a signal relay station was set up on the summit by the Wellington Harbour Master on 5 acres of land vested in the Harbour Board. The relay station had previously been located on Mt Albert and was used to relay messages about shipping from the Beacon Hill Signal Station to the City. Mrs Ruth France was appointed its keeper. Later notices that same year had Frederick France who had married an Isabella Ross as being the keeper. Frederick France was not appointed as keeper until August 1873, replacing Ruth France.[80][81][82][83][84]
The relay system worked by means of signal flags which conveyed information about shipping entering the harbour. The Beacon Hill Signal Station would fly flags indicating the information, whereby the signaler at Mount Victoria would then replicate the signal for those interested in the port of Wellington. This system meant that the signaler at Mount Victoria had to keep a constant watch on the Beacon Hill station. In 1909 the Harbour Board linked the two stations by telephone so that the watch became less irksome.[85]
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In April 1877 a suggestion was made by the Venerable Archdeacon Stock to place a time gun on Mount Victoria, to be managed by the keeper. This was in replacement of the time-ball as it was no longer generally visible due to the development of the City. The matter was discussed by the Council with it being suggested that the gun and ammunition be supplied by the Council if the Government gave consent. This the Government, through the Customs Department, agreed to ordering the signal keeper to fire the gun. Because of this the City Surveyor was tasked with obtaining the time gun. A gun, an old Royal Artillery 24 pounder, serial number 80399, from Fort Britomart, was shipped on the Stella to Wellington, arriving in October.[86][87][88][89][90] The gun had been made in Scotland in 1813 at the Carron Iron Works. It had come to New Zealand with artillery associated with either the 90th or 58th Regiments.[91] With the departure of the 58th, the Auckland Naval Volunteers took over the Fort Britomart guns.[92][93]
The gun was initially taken to the Council depot while the Council tried to find a way to get it to the top of Mount Victoria. A gun of this type was generally 9 foot 6 inches long and weighted 2.5 (imperial) tons.[94] After tenders were called for the task and declined Council decided to ask the Artillery Volunteers to undertake the task. This they agreed to do for the sum of £25, well below the lowest tender of £60. The Volunteers began to move the gun on 24 November, reaching the top of Marjoribanks Street that day. The local paper quipped that at this rate of progress it should be in place for the 1900 new years celebrations. The gun was in place by 1 December. Mount Victoria to its top from Majoribanks Street is very steep, with the Volunteers using block and tackle to raise the gun up this slope.[95][96][97][98][99]
The guns first use as a time gun was on 2 February 1878, although it had been fired on at least three occasions prior, when first placed on Mount Victoria, on New Years Eve, and to celebrate the return of Major Pearce to Wellington. Later that year a wire was run from the Telegraph office to the gun so it could be remotely set off. By July 1879 it was reported the gun, while used on special occasions, was no longer in use as a time gun. Whether this was correct is unknown as in April 1880 the Council had voted to continue its use. By 1888 the gun had fallen into disuse and a local firm J Robinson and Foley approached the Harbour Board to ask if they could use it. Robinson and Foley used the gun to indicate the start of the 1889 new year.[100][101][102][103][104] The gun fell into disuse from that time. In 1916 that there was a suggestion that the gun be moved to alongside the statue of Queen Victoria in Kent Terrace. This was declined. The last firing of the cannon was in December 1967 by the Royal New Zealand Artillery to celebrate the Centenary of the Wellington Artillery.[105][93]
The time ball was also in use throughout this period. In 1882 a mariner suggested that it should be moved up on to Mount Victoria as well. Its then location on the Customs Building was difficult to see. After deliberation by the Harbour Board and an investigation by the Marine Department the Department decided in 1884 that a time ball on Mount Victoria was impractical. The Harbour Board Engineer, in June 1885, reported that either Mount Victoria or the hill behind the Terrace School were the best sites.[106][107][108]
In December 1883 the keeper, France, tendered his resignation due to ill health. Martin Luman (or Leuman in some sources), the Chief Signalman at Beacon Hill, replaced him. At some point between 1866 and 1885 a residence had been built next to the Signal Station for the keeper as approval was granted to add an extra room to it in 1885. In 1891 a tender was accepted for a new house for the signalman on Mount Victoria. The tender was from T O'Laughlin for £240 13s 11d.[109][110][111] Luman, aged 75, retired in 1907 and was replaced by Robert Colville Smith.[112] Smith retired in 1917 and was replaced by James Lanham.[113]
Quarry
In 1867 R M Skeet, City Surveyor, noted that there was suitable metal (gravel) for streets on Mount Victoria. This was used by the contractor, a Mr Tonks, for work on metalling Cuba Street.[114][115] By July there were probably several quarries operating on Mount Victoria. Dr Hector advised the Town Board that the material quarried there was very suitable for roading. An issue arose in 1875 with Council workers blasting the rocks in the quarry adjoining Marjoribanks Street. Rocks and debris rained down on residential properties nearby.[116][117]
By 1880 a writer to the Evening Post complained about the immense excavation destroying Mount Victoria. This prompted similar letters along the same lines. These complaints must have had sufficient backing because Councils Public Works Committee sought to have the quarries closed.[118][119]
Tunnels
Transport
The first suggestion of a tunnel through Mount Victoria from the suburb to Evans Bay was in 1876. James Crawford raised the issue again in 1884.[120][121] With the development of Kilbirnie through the late 1800's calls were renewed for a tunnel from the city under Mount Victoria. Kilbirnie at that time was part of the Melrose Borough Council area. This became a major election issue in the 1901 Melrose Borough elections with candidates either supporting or opposing funding a tunnel.[122][123] The syndicate that bought the Jenkins Estate (now known as Hataitai) put forward a proposal whereby they would contribute 1/12th the cost of the tunnel and pay a further contribution through levied rates for the construction of a tunnel from Elizabeth Street, Mount Victoria to Hataitai.[124]
When Kilbirnie residents sought a tram tunnel in the early 1900's they had wanted it to include pedestrian access. This did not occur and by 1910 calls were being made for a second tunnel, one which preferably allowed both pedestrian and vehicular access.[125] The Council directed W H Morton, the City Engineer, to investigate. He reported back in December recommending that the proposed tram link over Constable Street to Miramar would suffice from them, but for vehicle traffic and pedestrians a tunnel should be driven from near the Basin Reserve to opposite Goa Street, Hataitai. He determined that only the suburbs to the east of the City would benefit and therefore they should have to defray most of the estimated £70,000 (almost NZ$15 million in 2024 terms). After much discussion during the year and various alternative proposals Council decided in November 1911 not to proceed with the tunnel and the Constable Street tram route extension to Kilbirnie.[126][127][128]
In 1913 the Hatatai Municipal Electors Association obtained a new tunnel scheme from Leslie Reynolds. The Association Chair suggested his scheme would cost £52,000 and that Morton's was underestimated by £20,000 as it did not allow for compensation to Wellington College for loss of land.[129] His route also differed with the tunnel commencing at the same place as Morton's near the Basin Reserve but exiting near Waitoa Road, Hataitai. It also included a road running parallel with Moxham Avenue towards Kilbirnie. Reynolds estimated the cost of all the associated work and tunnel at £64,860.[130] In May 1914 Council sought to raise a £300,000 which included £70,000 for the tunnel. Initially a majority of Councillors opposed the expenditure on the tunnel and it was to be deferred.[131][132] After representations from Kilbirnie the tunnel was reinstated as part of the work covered by the loan.[133] With the declaration of war on 5 August the loan was not applied for.
Following the end of the war the issue of the need for a tunnel began to be raised again.[134] In 1920 the Council proposed raising a £1.5 million loan to cover various works around the city. The initial proposal excluded the loan because the Mayor, J P Luke, was opposed to it. After a unanimous vote by Councillors the tunnel was included and loan to be raised was increased to £1.7 million. The estimate for completing the tunnel was £160,000.[135] A vote was taken on the loan by ratepayers with the majority approving the loan.[136]
In 1931, the Mount Victoria Tunnel was opened,[137] connecting the suburbs of Mount Victoria and Hataitai.
Tram
With the commencement of tramways in Wellington mention was made of creating a tunnel under Mount Victoria to bring trams to Kilbirnie. A suggestion was made that a double tack tunnel would be best if the lines were likely to be extended to Miramar.[138] This first proposal was never acted on and with the opening of Hataitai to development the developers, the Hataitai Land Company, sought first a road tunnel and then a road over Mount Victoria to the city. Their next endeavor in 1903 was to raise capital to create a tram tunnel and operate trams to the city along with a road over the ridge from Elizabeth Street.[139]
In 1904 the City Council's engineer recommended a tram tunnel be put through Mount Vitoria to Hataitai and running as far as Kilbirnie on the basis of the contribution raised by the Hataitai residents.[140] The plan for the tram tunnel also included laying an 8 inch water supply main from the city to Kilbirnie through it.[141] The Council accepted a tender from Allan Maquire for contraction of the tram tunnel on 5 October 1905.[142] The first sod was turned by the Wellington Mayor Thomas William Hislop on 18 October at Kilbirnie.. The Premier, Richard Seddon, also attended the ceremony. Work from the Pirie Street end commenced about a week later with the object of both teams meeting in the middle in about 6 months.[143][144]
In April 1906 work on the Kilbirnie side of the tunnel had to cease with it becoming waterlogged. Work continued on the Pirie Street side with the tunnel being pierced through just before 10am on 17 May that year. Work then commenced on enlarging the tunnel and bricking the walls began in July.[145] Spoil from the Pirie Street side was used to level the ground to the north of the tunnel entrance between Elizabeth and Pirie Streets - now called the Pirie Street Calisthenics Park and Play Area. Spoil from the Hataitai end was used to create part the area now occupied by Kilbirnie Park.[146] During the very last weeks before completion a partial collapse of earth killed three men.[147] The first trial run of a tram through the tunnel was on 12 April 1907 with passenger services commencing a few days later in 16 April.[148]
The tunnels dimensions are 1273 feet long and 17 foot 6 inches high by 12 feet wide at the base. It bows slightly to 13 foot 6 inches in width being slightly oval in cross section.[149] It also had no pedestrian walkway through it. The Council Bylaw specified a fine of £5 (about NZ$1,000 in 2024 dollars) for anyone trespassing in the tunnel.[150]
By 1913, with the Constable Street extension not being commenced, calls were renewed for a second tram tunnel to be built.[151] During that years Mayoral election the issue returned to needing a traffic tunnel, not just a tram tunnel.[152] A booster power line was installed from Majoribanks Street and along the Mount Victoria ridge to Constable Street to provide additional power for the Trams.[153]
Railway
In 1889 the Railways Department was considering putting a branch line from its Wellington Station across Te Aro flat to the base of Mount Victoria. As part of this, thought was being given to extending the line as far as Kilbirnie by way of a tunnel through Mount Victoria to Hataitai.[154] The line to Te Aro was completed in 1893, but no further. In 1908 the proposal for an extension of the branch line via a tunnel to Kilbirnie was raised again. Mr J F Luke, with the support of the Mayor of Miramar, Charles J Crawford described the route as being from about Taranaki Street then by bridge across Clyde Quay and Roxborough Street with a 800 metre long tunnel through Mount Victoria under the Tram Tunnel and coming out near the Chinamen's gardens at Kilbirnie (near where the Church of the Latter Day Saints is located on Moxham Avenue, Hataitai).[155] The terminus would be a station near the Kilbirnie Recreation ground.[156]
The proposal was expanded on in 1909 with the idea of making the Kilbirnie/Miramar a termination point for the North Island Main Trunk line instead of the area being reclaimed at Thorndon for that purpose. The proposal outlined that the area had the potential for the development of industry, a large residential development and Evans Bay would be suitable for a harbour.[157] In May 1912 the Wellington Railway Extension and Improvement League was formed as a pressure group with the aim of having the Te Aro branch line put through Mount Victoria to service Kilbirnie and Miramar.[158]
Sewage
A Council meeting in January 1877 received a report from Daniel Climie, City Engineer, for the disposal of sewage from the city by way of a tunnel through Mount Victoria to Evans Bay. At Evans Bay, Coutts Crawford, the owner of all the land on the Miramar Peninsula, intended to use it for fertilizer.[159] Construction of the sewage scheme, including the tunnnel, did not commence until 1897 with completion on 11 March 1898.[160] The tunnel runs from Hospital Road, Newtown to Duncan Terrace, Kilbirnie crossing undergound just inside of Mount Vicotria's then southern boundary.[161]
Reservoir
In 1909 2.5 acres were set aside on Mount Victoria for a reservoir. Residents in the higher areas of Roseneath and Mount Victoria had been experiencing difficulties with the water supply especially when the occasional house fire broke out. A deputation of Roseneath residents approached Council after the land was reserved requesting the reservoir be built.[162] Approval for construction of the reservoir was given in 1910. The 200,000 gallon capacity reservoir was completed that year. It is located near the Mount Victoria Trig Station and Radio Tower on Lookout Road.[163]
Broadcasting transmitters
Television broadcasts began in Wellington on 1 July 1961, broadcast from a transmitter atop Mount Victoria. In 1967, the Mount Victoria transmitter was replaced with a more powerful transmitter at Mount Kaukau.[164]
Mount Victoria is a popular walk for tourists and Wellingtonians alike, as from the summit one can see most of Wellington. There are numerous mountain bike and walking tracks on the hill.
Mount Victoria in 1885
The New Zealand National Memorial to Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd
The Mount Victoria Transmission Tower
View of Wellington City from Mount Victoria
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