Never be afraid to explore the unknown,travel roads less traveled and visit the side streets of the well known. You will never know what you will find.
It is Woodward Street (opposite Waring Street) and is located near the steps that take you up to The Terrace.
It was installed in 2002 and is made of Stainless Steel and was made by Robert Jahnke.
James/ Windy Hill Flying Club.
The Bolton Street Cemetery opened in 1880 which was then located on the outskirts of the developing Wellington. Unlike the usual way where the different churches would have their own cemeteries, the idea was to have one area.
As part of this the individual faiths asked for different areas within the overall area. So the area was divided so that the Anglican. Jews the public areas whilst the Catholics had a separate area which is currently located in Mount Street Kelburn.
With many deaths occurring and the ever growing city it closed in 1892 to any one other those related to those who had relatives buried there.Community leaders and politicians were also buried there.
Wellington City Council also took over control in 1892.
Entry to the area is through to main areas. One is from near the Rose Garden at the Botanical Gardens or from Bolton Street which is located of the Terrace on the town side of the motorway.
Located at the Bolton Street entrance is the Chapel which is open from 10 to 4 each day. Here you will found the books that contain the list of the names of those that are known to have been buried there.The books have 8,679 names listed of those buried.
The Chapel is located next to the Sexton’s Cottage which is one of the oldest buildings in Wellington
Just past the Chapel is the Early Settler’s Lawn. This is lower than the Chapel. Around this area some short tracks that take you around through the head stones
.
Then take the foot bridge over the motorway where you will come across the larger part of the Cemetery. Here there are a number of tracks that are all named. Take a slow walk and have a sit and relax through this oasis.There are a number of plants that can be traced back to the early days.
You climb gently until you arrive at the main gates where you enter the Botanical Gardens.At these gate you will see the Seddonstatue with its view over Wellington.This site was the original site for Wellington’s Time Service Observatory.Located under the statue is the family tomb that is the resting place for Rt Hon Richard Seddon (1845-1906) and Mrs Louisa Seddon (1851- 1931), daughter Mary Stuart Hay and son Richard John Spotswood Seddon
Below are 2 good sites on the Cemetery.
Friends of Bolton Cemetery. A excellent site providing detail information of the history and the plans for the
cemetery.
Wellington Council Page Wellington’s Council page on its Web Page.
Richard Seddon History about Richard Seddon *
Hidden away along Victoria Street overlooking Wellington’s Tourist Office on Wakefield Street is a sculpture by Terry Stringer and was completed in 1986.
A little of the beaten track for most visitors to Wellington it can easily be missed which is a shame.
It was completed in 1986 as as been at the same location since then.
Paddy the Wanderer is a interesting tale from Wellington. Paddy was a Terrier (Airedale)who during the Great Depression (1930’s) would wander the streets of Wellington.
Many people became friends of Paddy and was well known for greeting sailors as they arrived or departed from Wellington.
On many occasions Paddy would make his way onto a Steamer that would work its way round the coast of New Zealand.
Paddy had also crossed “The Ditch” to Australia on a number occasions. It is also report that he also made his way to San Francisco.
Paddy was given the title of Assistant Night Watchman by the Wellington Harbour Board. The job was to keep undesirables out as well as rodents.
On 17th July 1939 he died after a cold period. His funeral included 12 taxis and at least 1 traffic officer. It is said that funeral brought Wellington to a standstill.
There is a sad aspect to the story. Paddy had been given to the daughter of R Gardner, it was after her Daughter died 11 years later, that Paddy ran away.
A memorial Drinking Fountain including a dog drinking bowl is located out the Museum of Fine Arts. It is located near the TSB arena and opposite Post Office Square.
Also a plaque is located the near by with all the story.
The fountain was made in 1947 and was made from pieces of stone from the then bombed Waterloo Bridge, London.
Three biographies have been written about Paddy over the years. and 1 book called Paddy The Wanderer based on Paddy written by Dianne Haworth. It was published on 1997 by Harper Collins.
James/ Windy Hill Flying Club
The designs on the bridge were designed by the famous Maori Artist Paratene Matchitt.
WildBay 