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WCC, photograph album of the Western Access development
Descriptive Data
Archives Identifier00127Date Range1929-1930DescriptionThe Western Access Scheme was a series of interconnected civil engineering projects undertaken by the Wellington City Council over a 20-year period to improve access to the western suburbs. Though an electrified tram service to Karori had begun in 1906, the track-lines from the city took a circuitous path up the entire length of Molesworth Street before turning south up Tinakori Road with some of the route being unsuitable for motor vehicles. The population of Karori and its neighbouring suburbs was growing rapidly with new housing subdivisions taking some pressure off the congested inner-city, but this development was being limited by poor transport options. A number of different additional routes to improve access were investigated but little action was taken until the Karori Borough voted to give up its independence in a referendum and amalgamate with Wellington City in 1920.
Coupled with increasing numbers of privately owned motorcars, the Wellington City Council agreed to embark on a series of major infrastructural projects which were to continue through to 1940. Roads were widened with many being sealed for the first time, hillsides were cut open and shored-up with massive retaining walls, a tunnel was mined through to improve access to Northland, and the rickety single-lane wooden bridge in Kelburn was replaced with a modern viaduct.
The largest and most dramatic of these projects was the extension of Bowen Street through to Tinakori Road. A highly controversial project, different variations of the route were suggested before the path that Bowen Street traces today was finally agreed upon and confirmed after a referendum was held. This new route reduced the traveling distance from Lambton Quay to the entrance of the Botanic Gardens by 1.25 kilometers and removed a lot of through-traffic from the congested streets of Thorndon. Unfortunately, it also resulted in the partial destruction of the community which had been based around Sydney Street West. This final section of the scheme was officially opened on 1 August 1940, cementing one of the principal routes from the CBD to Karori and Northland which continues to be used by thousands of commuters every day.
The photographs in this album were commissioned by the City Engineer’s Department who contracted professional photographer Frank Giles Barker (1891-1955) to record the works between 1929 and 1930. Barker also photographed areas not directly connected to the scheme such as Brooklyn, Ngaio and the preparatory work for the Mt Victoria tunnel which was associated with the related Eastern Access Scheme.
Quantity (Linear Metres)0.42MediumPhotograph albumSystem of ArrangementIndexed inside back coverCollection TypeWellington City Council
Coupled with increasing numbers of privately owned motorcars, the Wellington City Council agreed to embark on a series of major infrastructural projects which were to continue through to 1940. Roads were widened with many being sealed for the first time, hillsides were cut open and shored-up with massive retaining walls, a tunnel was mined through to improve access to Northland, and the rickety single-lane wooden bridge in Kelburn was replaced with a modern viaduct.
The largest and most dramatic of these projects was the extension of Bowen Street through to Tinakori Road. A highly controversial project, different variations of the route were suggested before the path that Bowen Street traces today was finally agreed upon and confirmed after a referendum was held. This new route reduced the traveling distance from Lambton Quay to the entrance of the Botanic Gardens by 1.25 kilometers and removed a lot of through-traffic from the congested streets of Thorndon. Unfortunately, it also resulted in the partial destruction of the community which had been based around Sydney Street West. This final section of the scheme was officially opened on 1 August 1940, cementing one of the principal routes from the CBD to Karori and Northland which continues to be used by thousands of commuters every day.
The photographs in this album were commissioned by the City Engineer’s Department who contracted professional photographer Frank Giles Barker (1891-1955) to record the works between 1929 and 1930. Barker also photographed areas not directly connected to the scheme such as Brooklyn, Ngaio and the preparatory work for the Mt Victoria tunnel which was associated with the related Eastern Access Scheme.
Quantity (Linear Metres)0.42MediumPhotograph albumSystem of ArrangementIndexed inside back coverCollection TypeWellington City Council
Access Information
Restriction StatusOpen
Related Agencies
Controlling or Creating AgencyWellington City CorporationRelationship Date Range1870-
WCC, photograph album of the Western Access development. Archives Online, accessed 17/08/2026, https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/1623