TypeAgencyParallel NameMitchelltown Society (INC)Other NamesMitchelltown Community GroupDate Range1977-2000DescriptionMitchelltown is an old working-class neighbourhood in Central Wellington which was fairly run-down in the early 1960s.
In the 1960s Victoria University bought up some of the land and property to establish playing fields. This development called for demolition of housing and earth-moving. In 1962 the area had a "Public Works Designation" placed over it, meaning no building permits could be issued and if owners sold their properties it had to be to the University. This was inevitably followed by a period of further decline as landlords moved out and the modernisation of properties became impossible.
Holloway Road lost 28 houses in 15 years to the development, reducing from 92 in 1962 to 64 by 1977.
In the 1970s younger people began to move into the area, attracted by the cheap rents and proximity to the city and university, leading to a transient and vulnerable population.
In 1977 some residents became concerned and determined to stop the demolition of homes and the loss of the area's heritage and sense of community to the University's plans, which had lost relevance over the years.
The Mitchelltown Community Group was formed and immediately began talking with the University, Council and the Department of Education. The group became more formal and were officially incorporated as the Mitchelltown Society Inc on 24 April 1980.
The group was involved with a host of activities in the area including running the Mitchelltown General Store, working with architect and resident David McGill and architecture students to produce "Towards a Neighbourhood Definition" (a submission to the District Review Scheme aiming to get the area declared an urban village), a work co-operative and publishing its own newsletter, "The Gully Guardian".
The Public Works Designation was lifted in the 1990s.
The Mitchelltown Society Inc was dissolved on 2 October 2000
