Pipitea Point railway station facts for kids

Pipitea Point railway station was Wellington's very first train station! It opened on April 14, 1874. This station was a temporary building for the railway line that went from Wellington to Hutt and Masterton. The railway line itself started being built in 1872 and was ready for trains by 1874.

Wellington's First Train Station

The Pipitea Point railway station building was located on land that had been raised from the sea by an earthquake. It was near where Davis Street and Thorndon Quay are today. This spot was chosen because it was as close as the railway line from Hutt could get to Wellington's main business area.

The Governor, Sir George Bowen, officially started the railway project at Pipitea Point on August 19, 1872. Plans for the station building were shared in November 1873. It was designed to be a small passenger station, about 13 meters long and 4.5 meters wide, with a 36-meter platform. This station was only meant to be used until a bigger main station in Wellington was finished.

The station was also planned to have a shed for three train engines and another shed for twelve carriages. These sheds could be moved to the new city station later. The very first train engine was put together in its shed. It made its first "proper orthodox noises" on December 9, 1873, when its steam was raised for the first time.

The railway line to Hutt officially opened on April 14, 1874. There was no big party or celebration. About twenty gentlemen and many small boys watched the first train leave at 8:15 AM. It had 21 passengers, including some important people from the Provincial Council.

Over the next three years, more land was created from the sea. The railway lines were extended almost one kilometer further into Wellington. The Pipitea Point station building was destroyed by fire in January 1878. Even though the building was gone, Pipitea Point continued to be a stop for trains. However, this stop was no longer needed after September 30, 1884. This was because the railway lines were moved much further east onto new land.

New Zealand Railways headquarters building, 1905 to 1937

New Wellington Stations Emerge

A new main train station for Wellington opened on November 1, 1880. It was called Wellington railway station. This new station, along with a goods station, was built on land reclaimed from the sea. It was located on Featherston Street, near the new Railway Wharf.

On the same day, the Wairarapa Line was opened all the way to Masterton. A train with 21 carriages, pulled by special Fell engines, traveled this new line. The Railway Wharf, which was close by, had been finished in April 1880.

The new station site quickly became too small. It also made it hard to get to the Railway Wharf. People expected a new, even bigger passenger station to be built near the Government Buildings. This new station was meant to handle both the Masterton line and the Manawatu line.

In 1885, the wooden passenger station building was moved. It was rolled north along Featherston Street to the other side of Bunny Street. The government and the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company could not agree to share the station. So, the Manawatu line built its own station, which became known as Thorndon station.

The site at 75 Featherston Street was later used for the New Zealand Railways headquarters building. Construction started in 1901 and finished in 1905. In 1937, the Railways Department moved out, and the Defence Department took over the building. Today, in the 21st century, a hotel called Rydges Hotel stands on this site.

The building that was rolled from the headquarters site

Lambton Railway Station

The building that was moved from 75 Featherston Street was taken even further north on Featherston Street. It opened to passengers in 1885. This building's name was later changed to Lambton railway station. This happened when the government bought the Thorndon railway station from the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company.

Important Dates in History

• 1872, August 20: The Governor, Sir George Bowen, officially started the railway line project at Pipitea Point.
• 1874, April 14: The railway line opened with the first train to Lower Hutt. The station buildings were not fully finished yet.
• 1878, January 16: A fire started at the Railway Hotel. Strong winds helped the fire spread across the road to the station. Within 15 minutes, the railway station, manager's office, and workshops were all on fire and completely destroyed.
• 1880, November 1: A new station opened on Featherston Street. This site was later used for the Defence building. Pipitea Point Station was still used as a stopping point, and the line was extended to Masterton.
• 1884, September 30: Pipitea Point Station officially closed. The Hutt line was now on the eastern side of the new land.
• 1885: The Wellington Station reopened at the corner of Thorndon Quay and Lambton Quay. The building was moved from Featherston Street using rollers and many people. This move also allowed Bunny Street to be extended to the waterfront.
• 1908, December 7: The government took over the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. The stations were then called Wellington (Thorndon Station) and Wellington (Lambton Station), or just Thorndon Station and Lambton Station.
• 1937, June 19: Lambton Station closed. Thorndon Station had closed earlier, on June 8.