Glenside, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glenside |
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 Glenside
Location in New Zealand Wellington
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| Basic information | |
| Local authority | Wellington City Council |
| Electoral ward | Northern Ward |
| Coordinates | 41°11′58″S 174°49′09″E / 41.199355°S 174.81919°E |
  Glenside, New Zealand  |
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Glenside is a suburb in Wellington, New Zealand. It is located north of Wellington city. To its north is Tawa. To the west and south is Churton Park. Across the motorway to the east is Grenada.
People first settled in Glenside in 1840. The Ngāti Toa people are the traditional owners of the land, known as mana whenua. From 1840 until 1928, the area was called "The Halfway".
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Getting Around Glenside
Middleton Road is a main road in Glenside. In the 1800s, it was part of the Old Porirua Road. This road went north from Wellington.
Today, you can use Metlink buses to get around. Buses travel along Middleton Road. They connect Glenside to Johnsonville, Tawa, and Porirua.
There was a plan for a train station near Glenside. It would have been on the Kapiti Line. However, a report in 2017 said it would cost too much money.
Why Glenside Got Its Name
In 1928, the area got a new name. This happened when a Post Office opened there. A competition was held to choose the new name.
Mrs. P.C. Watts, a local landowner, suggested "Glenside". Her idea was chosen. She thought the area looked like a Scottish glen, which is a narrow valley.
The Halfway House
A halfway house is a place where travellers can rest. It is usually located halfway between two towns. In 1841, Anthony and Susannah Wall built a Halfway House in Glenside.
This house was a resting spot for people travelling between Wellington and Porirua. They used an old Māori trail. This trail was later made bigger and became known as the Porirua Road.
Old Porirua Road History
The building of the Old Porirua Road stopped at The Halfway. This was because of problems between the government and Ngāti Toa. The issues were about land that was bought by Colonel Wakefield before the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840.
These problems led to some conflicts. These included the Wairau Affray in 1843. There were also fights in the Hutt Valley in 1846. A small battle happened at Battle Hill in 1846.
World War II Tank Trap
You can still find parts of a Tank trap from World War II in Glenside. These are on private land near Middleton Road. During the war, this road was called "Porirua Road". It was the only road connecting Wellington and Porirua.
Railway workers found parts of these old tank traps again in 2008.
Building the Railway
A camp was built in Glenside for workers. These workers were building the Tawa Flat deviation railway line. This railway project lasted from 1924 to 1937. The northern entrance of the long No 2 tunnel is in Glenside.
You can still see the remains of a rock crusher in Rowells Road, Glenside. This crusher was used to break rocks. The crushed rock was then used to build the railway's foundations. Parts of the rock crusher are now part of Rowells Road itself.
