Suspension Bridge

An article from 1934 described that the gully which divided Tinakori Road from Thorndon Flat was formed in the 1855 earthquake and that this fissure opened up between the intersection with Molesworth Street and the sea.[i] A geologist also wrote in the 1930’s that there was no evidence for this being due to an earthquake and that the gully was formed stream.[ii] However it came about, the gully divided Tinakori Road from Thorndon flat unless you went by Molesworth Street.

In 1879, a small suspension bridge was constructed to connect Hobson Street with Tinakori Road. It was a novelty for local children who enjoyed having a swing on the bridge. While it improved access, it also provided an opportunity to dump household waste and rubbish into the gully. This became a constant cause of complaint to the council.

In 1907 the rubbish beneath the bridge caught fire, most likely due to someone passing over the bridge and throwing a lighted match over the side. The fire brigade was able to prevent the bridge suffering any damage. The following year, it was decided to clear away the fennel and rubbish and to plant native shrubs below the bridge.

In the 1920s, the council decided to remove the bridge and fill in the gully to form a vehicle crossing at that point. ‘This will be welcome news to many worthy citizens who could never cross the bridge without considerable misgiving’.[iii] Local residents were concerned about traffic being diverted down Hobson Street from Molesworth Street, and that it wouldn’t alleviate traffic on Tinakori Road which was backed up on Saturdays and Sundays.

‘People who love the gully and suspension bridge for old association’s sake declare that the Council’s action will be an unnecessary extravagance, an act of vandalism, and a “jolly shame” ‘.[iv]

The matter was debated on and off throughout the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s. The rubbish dumping continued while the bridge was also called a ‘beauty spot’ because of the views it provided looking up the gully.

Air raid shelter tunnels were planned to be built in the gully in 1942, and there was a concern the bridge would not be safe in a rush of people to access them. A notice was placed on the bridge, limiting it to 12 people at a time. To address safety concerns, it was proposed to station wardens at the bridge in the event of an air raid[v].

The city engineer wanted to replace the bridge altogether but had neither the time, materials or labour to do so. The bridge appears to have had fill placed underneath as a stopgap for safety at some stage in the 1950’s.

In 1959 it was proposed to bring the new urban motorway from Aotea Quay right up through the gully. Beyond that the motorway would need to bisect Bolton Street cemetery before becoming elevated again through Shell Gully. In 1969, Hobson Street finally received its concrete bridge to replace the suspension bridge, but in quite a different world to what was conceived in the 1920’s.

References

[i] E. Mawell “Earthquake History: A Sinister Fault”, Taranaki Daily News, March 24 1934

[ii] “Random Notes: Sidelights on Current Events”, Dominion, February 13 1939

[iii] “By the Way: Random Thoughts on Many Things”, New Zealand Times, May 26 1924

[iv] “Round About Wellington”, Otago Witness, August 12 1924

[v] Wellington City Council Archives, 00009-35/146 Part 1