TypeAgencyDate Range1974-presentDescriptionThe Onslow Historical Society was established in 1968 by historian Bob Meyer, who had been collecting information about old Johnsonville for 30 years. Seeing the interest shown in the centenary celebrations for Johnsonville School in 1967, he contacted John B Turner (of the National Museum) and William Main (tutor of photography at Wellington Polytech, who collected old photographs of Wellington) about forming a local history society. Early in 1968 the first meeting was held at Bob's home, followed by the first public meeting held in the Johnsonville Community Centre in May 1968, which saw Bob elected as the first President.
The Society supports and promotes heritage in Wellington's northern suburbs, through research, publishing programmes, and events - lectures, tours and exhibition.
The area of historical interest covers the suburbs of Ngaio, Khandallah, Johnsonville, Kaiwharawhara, Ngauranga, Crofton Downs, Newlands, Paparangi, Churton Park, Ohariu Valley, Glenside and Horokiwi.
The historical centre is open to the public on Sunday afternoons, at the old Khandallah Telephone Exchange on Khandallah Road.
Since November 1970 the Society has published the "Onslow Historian", and has also published a number of limited edition books, including Wellington's Northern Suburbs 1840-1918 (1983) and the follow up Wellington's Northern Suburbs 1919-1945 (1987).Internal StructuresThe following is a list of the Society's presidents:
Robert J Meyer 1968 - 1975
John Daniels 1975 - 1977
Brian Mountjoy 1977 - 1979
Dick Barber 1979 - 1980
Prof C L Bailey (Acting President) 1981
William Main 1981 - 1983
J D Barber 1983 - 1985
Judy Siers 1985 - 1989
James Bentall 1989 - 1991
Margaret Domett 1991 - 1995
Judy Siers 1995 - 2005
Murray Pillar 2005 - 2018
Jeff Owens 2018 - 2019
Judy Siers 2019 - 2024
Felicity Wong 2024 - presentExternal LinksOnslow Historical Society website
