Johnsonville Community Association collection
Descriptive Data
Archives IdentifierCL001Date Range1923-1997DescriptionThese records form an important sixty-year history of the multiple Johnsonville Residents Associations' input in shaping their communities, from the 1920s through to the late 1990s. This was the period of huge residential expansion in Wellington's north-west suburbs. Infill housing was encouraged, older buildings were upgraded and unused land was rezoned so developers could create new suburbs providing thousands of new homes for growing families. New roads were built; existing roads improved, public transport extended, and educational, recreational, cultural, commercial and industrial facilities were constructed.
As the decades went on, Johnsonville village changed from a sleepy suburban centre one passed through on the way to Porirua to a major retail and transport hub, and an anchor for the new communities. The locals dealt with the changes, new Associations were formed as new suburbs grew demanding the best for their 'neck-of-the- woods' and then they all came together for a stronger voice and in larger numbers for community presentations.
The JCA collection is unique. It was established and actively provided and managed for 50 years based on two factors: the interest of the WCC Johnsonville librarians of the day, and the recorders of the work of the community groups, those people who brought residents together to share aspirational goals and produce plans for their areas. They organized community meetings, conveyed these views to the WCC and other relevant bodies; they followed up the progress or lack of it. These records explain their methodology, prove their dedication and persistence in quality not just quantity, and endorse the principle of the power the people when community needs must be meet.MediumLoose papersSystem of ArrangementThe collection was originally held in the Johnsonville Branch Library building. From the 1950s the librarians had a filing system and received paperwork from the various and many community groups. Originally meticulous and orderly, the records became rather haphazard over the latter years. The collection does lack some continuity, as it was built depending on material being supplied to the library and on volunteer effort. For years the collection was available to anyone wishing to take content away and perhaps much was never returned.
In the early 2020s with the old Johnsonville Library closing, Wellington City Council advised they could no longer accommodate the collection, and it was relocated to the Johnsonville Community Hub. From here they were appraised and arranged into a subject based system, before being digitised and transferred to City Archives.
Collection TypeCommunity archives
As the decades went on, Johnsonville village changed from a sleepy suburban centre one passed through on the way to Porirua to a major retail and transport hub, and an anchor for the new communities. The locals dealt with the changes, new Associations were formed as new suburbs grew demanding the best for their 'neck-of-the- woods' and then they all came together for a stronger voice and in larger numbers for community presentations.
The JCA collection is unique. It was established and actively provided and managed for 50 years based on two factors: the interest of the WCC Johnsonville librarians of the day, and the recorders of the work of the community groups, those people who brought residents together to share aspirational goals and produce plans for their areas. They organized community meetings, conveyed these views to the WCC and other relevant bodies; they followed up the progress or lack of it. These records explain their methodology, prove their dedication and persistence in quality not just quantity, and endorse the principle of the power the people when community needs must be meet.MediumLoose papersSystem of ArrangementThe collection was originally held in the Johnsonville Branch Library building. From the 1950s the librarians had a filing system and received paperwork from the various and many community groups. Originally meticulous and orderly, the records became rather haphazard over the latter years. The collection does lack some continuity, as it was built depending on material being supplied to the library and on volunteer effort. For years the collection was available to anyone wishing to take content away and perhaps much was never returned.
In the early 2020s with the old Johnsonville Library closing, Wellington City Council advised they could no longer accommodate the collection, and it was relocated to the Johnsonville Community Hub. From here they were appraised and arranged into a subject based system, before being digitised and transferred to City Archives.
Collection TypeCommunity archives
Access Information
Restriction StatusOpen
Related Agencies
Controlling or Creating AgencyJohnsonville Community Association Inc
Johnsonville Community Association collection. Archives Online, accessed 19/08/2026, https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/927389