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WCC, City Engineer's Department and City Surveyor's Office's Maps and Plans
Descriptive Data
Archives Identifier00248Date Range1867-1925DescriptionPlans/maps created by or submitted to the Wellington City Council, and specifically the Surveyors or Engineers Department, as part of day to day business. These records document the operation of the City Engineers Department and City Surveyors Office. The scope of these departments has changed with reorganisation and restructuring that the Council has undergone, but they have been required to carry out a number of roles and functions.
The information relates largely to the development of City infrastructure and buildings, as well as more general reference sources. Plans relate to land subdivision, road formation, Council building construction, harbour reclamation, and development of infrastructure such as lighting, roading, tramways, water supply and drainage. The information is particularly significant in the context of Wellington City's development as they cover a period of significant change and growth for the City [major harbour reclamation, suburban expansion, introduction of water supply extension, citywide drainage system].
There is an index that gives a brief description of each plan only, but does not provide a date or if there are multiple sheets. As such it is of limited use in itself or for identifying whether plans were held or created. It is not known whether a register was ever kept.
Plans are arranged in a numerical sequence which does not relate to the date of the plan or subject matter. This suggests the system was created at some time to manage existing plans. Historic retention of plans is unknown. The bulk of the plans held were transferred to Archives from the Wellington Public Library. A 1980s report to the Wellington City Council from the Town Planning Committee noted that, ' the Civic Records Librarian inspects all plans which have become redundant and retains those thought to be of particular historic interest to the City.'
The plans have been transferred to Archives in a number of accessions, within and between which no discernible order or arrangement was identified. It is unknown whether the library carried out any processing or arrangement. Only a fraction of the plans entered in the index are held in paper format (the register lists 710 drawings). It also appears that the index does not necessarily reflect their use or storage. There may not have been a separately maintained set of maps and plans; rather the index recorded plans being received by Council, which were then kept or maintained relative to their function or use. For example correspondence in Series 00233 notifying plans being forwarded to Council can be matched to plans in Series 00248. In some cases the plans were left with the correspondence. Other plans numbered via the index have been found as part of drainage permits and deeds. A number these plans were renumbered into a later sequence of City Engineers Department plans when this later system of indexing was begun.
There are also still a number of published subdivision maps and plans, possibly submitted to Council either for general information or in relation to obtaining approval for subdivision work, held in the New Zealand Room at the Wellington Public Library, which relate to this series. Note re indexing: Commissioning Agency is either WCC where unknown, specific department/committee/organisation if identified through plan. Where research has identified specific agency reference to research should be included. A number of sheets refer to other engineer's plans. Where these are held the reference or series is included.Quantity (Linear Metres)3.2MediumPlanSystem of ArrangementPlans were registered and assigned a unique number. The register provides a brief description but no dates for the plans. It is not known whether plans were registered based on date of receipt or not.Collection TypeWellington City Council
The information relates largely to the development of City infrastructure and buildings, as well as more general reference sources. Plans relate to land subdivision, road formation, Council building construction, harbour reclamation, and development of infrastructure such as lighting, roading, tramways, water supply and drainage. The information is particularly significant in the context of Wellington City's development as they cover a period of significant change and growth for the City [major harbour reclamation, suburban expansion, introduction of water supply extension, citywide drainage system].
There is an index that gives a brief description of each plan only, but does not provide a date or if there are multiple sheets. As such it is of limited use in itself or for identifying whether plans were held or created. It is not known whether a register was ever kept.
Plans are arranged in a numerical sequence which does not relate to the date of the plan or subject matter. This suggests the system was created at some time to manage existing plans. Historic retention of plans is unknown. The bulk of the plans held were transferred to Archives from the Wellington Public Library. A 1980s report to the Wellington City Council from the Town Planning Committee noted that, ' the Civic Records Librarian inspects all plans which have become redundant and retains those thought to be of particular historic interest to the City.'
The plans have been transferred to Archives in a number of accessions, within and between which no discernible order or arrangement was identified. It is unknown whether the library carried out any processing or arrangement. Only a fraction of the plans entered in the index are held in paper format (the register lists 710 drawings). It also appears that the index does not necessarily reflect their use or storage. There may not have been a separately maintained set of maps and plans; rather the index recorded plans being received by Council, which were then kept or maintained relative to their function or use. For example correspondence in Series 00233 notifying plans being forwarded to Council can be matched to plans in Series 00248. In some cases the plans were left with the correspondence. Other plans numbered via the index have been found as part of drainage permits and deeds. A number these plans were renumbered into a later sequence of City Engineers Department plans when this later system of indexing was begun.
There are also still a number of published subdivision maps and plans, possibly submitted to Council either for general information or in relation to obtaining approval for subdivision work, held in the New Zealand Room at the Wellington Public Library, which relate to this series. Note re indexing: Commissioning Agency is either WCC where unknown, specific department/committee/organisation if identified through plan. Where research has identified specific agency reference to research should be included. A number of sheets refer to other engineer's plans. Where these are held the reference or series is included.Quantity (Linear Metres)3.2MediumPlanSystem of ArrangementPlans were registered and assigned a unique number. The register provides a brief description but no dates for the plans. It is not known whether plans were registered based on date of receipt or not.Collection TypeWellington City Council
Access Information
Restriction StatusOpen
Related Agencies
Controlling or Creating AgencyCity Engineer and Surveyor's OfficeRelationship Date Range1899-1923
Related Series
Successor SeriesWCC, City Engineer's Department Maps and PlansControlling SeriesWCC, City Engineer and Surveyor's Office, Index to plans and maps
WCC, City Engineer's Department and City Surveyor's Office's Maps and Plans. Archives Online, accessed 16/08/2026, https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/1742