Opening of the Wellington Bicycle Season
Kilbirnie Park
The Wellington Bicycle Club was established as early as 1881. The club opened with 13 members who established a set of rules and elected their officers. In September 1882, several club members met at Martin’s monument to ‘open the season’. They rode to Newtown and back.
‘The machines are all of the most approved pattern, and were ridden along thoroughfares in a very graceful manner.’
(Evening Post, 19 September 1882, 2)
Meanwhile the newspapers reported that in England, a ladies’ bicycle club was being formed ‘… with appropriate costume, something between knickerbockers, bloomer dress and Turkish trousers.’ (New Zealand Times, 8 April 1881, 3)
The Wellington Bicycle Club seems to have waned after 1884, and in 1892 there were calls once again to form a bicycle club in Wellington. An open invitation was made for those interested to meet at the Masonic Hotel. The new club had clubrooms on Lambton Quay. They would cycle to the Hutt or Makara for their club rides.
In 1894, it was announced that a ladies’ bicycle club was established in Wellington. The club imported bicycles from England and sold them at £14 each, with the option to pay the cost off over time. The Evening Post wrote:
‘Shortly a lady bicyclist will not be a thing for boys to jeer and stare at, as they often do now.
(Evening Post, 22 June 1895, 1)
In 1896, a Cash Amateur Bicycle Club was formed with 30 members. The Governor consented to be their patron. The members of these types of clubs were not permitted to race against professionals and could only compete for trophies.
The 1901 Wellington Cycle Club’s opening run was advertised to depart from the band rotunda on Jervois Quay at 2:30pm on 12th October. Their route was via Customhouse Quay, Whitmore Street, Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Oriental Bay to Kilbirnie. The advertisement noted that those attending would have their photograph taken at Kilbirnie Park. Light refreshments were offered to ladies, free of charge. The Cycling Tourists’ Club joined the run which started with 120 riders and grew to 300 as they neared the park. They rode in double file. The newspaper commented on the large number of lady riders.
There was ‘some discomfort’ riding home against the wind. The photograph taken in the park was available to be viewed that same evening in the clubrooms.
The opening of the Wellington bicycle season: members of the clubs at Kilbirnie. Courtesy of Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19011024-04-05.