Other NamesCuba MallDate RangeCirca 1842 - PresentDescription
Cuba Street is a prominent pedestrianised street in Te Aro, Wellington. It runs from Wakefield Street, opposite the Michael Fowler Centre to Webb Street. The Stretch between Wakefield Street and Ghuznee Street was closed to traffic in 1969.
Established in the early days of European colonialism the street was named after the settler ship the "Cuba" which arrived in New Zealand on January 4th, 1840. Even in the early days of the city it was a retail destination with many shops being located there. Trams were built along the street in 1904 and remained until the end of the Wellington tram service.
In 1965 the street was closed to traffic for the removal of the tram lines. The public then petitioned the City Council to permanently pedestrianise the street and in 1969 the street was modified to create an outdoor mall. Cuba Mall was officially opened on the 14th of October 1969 by Sir Francis Kitts, Wellington’s Mayor at the time. The layout has changed over the years (the north end of the street from the Michael Fowler Centre to Manners street has been re-opened as a one-way street) but the street remains a popular pedestrian shopping area today.
The south end of Cuba Street where it meets Tonks Grove and Arthur Street was altered by the completion of the Inner City Bypass in 2007. Several of the heritage buildings were demolished or moved from their original positions to accommodate the new road.
