Street Stories: How Masterton's Streets Got Their Names

Author(s): Gareth Winter

New Zealand

Masterton and Greytown, further down the Wairarapa valley, were the first planned inland towns in New Zealand. Masterton?s history now stretches back over 150 years. Gareth Winter writes: "Masterton?s progress was slow at first. Queen Street was an unlined pathway, formed by digging ditches in the boggy ground to the side and throwing the refuse onto the roadway to elevate it. Stumps were not removed, but buried under the spoil." Just how Masterton's streets came to be named is a series of fascinating stories, often full of mystery and sometimes hidden in confusion. There is a King Street not named after a king at all. One of the longest streets was once known as Short Street and one street in the middle of town had to be officially opened recently so it could be officially closed! Mayors, members of parliament, prominent settlers, priests and military leaders - all have had streets named after them, and many of the street names carry wonderful stories from the past.

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Masterton and Greytown, further down the Wairarapa valley, were the first planned inland towns in New Zealand. Masterton's history now stretches back over 150 years. Gareth Winter writes: "Masterton's progress was slow at first. Queen Street was an unlined pathway, formed by digging ditches in the boggy ground to the side and throwing the refuse onto the roadway to elevate it. Stumps were not removed, but buried under the spoil." Just how Masterton's streets came to be named is a series of fascinating stories, often full of mystery and sometimes hidden in confusion. There is a King Street not named after a king at all. One of the longest streets was once known as Short Street and one street in the middle of town had to be officially opened recently so it could be officially closed! Mayors, members of parliament, prominent settlers, priests and military leaders - all have had streets named after them, and many of the street names carry wonderful stories from the past.

General Fields

  • : 9780958205306
  • : Wairarapa Archive
  • : Wairarapa Archive
  • : 240mm X 170mm
  • : New Zealand
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Gareth Winter
  • : Paperback
  • : 2nd New edition
  • : 104
  • : photographs, maps