First settled in the early 1840s by New Zealand Company colonists and named in honour of their young queen, Victoria, Mount Victoria is an inner-city suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. It is also the name of the mountain on whose sunny slopes it nestles, known to Maori as Matairangi.
Mount Victoria has a rich history and heritage. Over the last 170 years or so its residents have shaped both Mount Victoria's unique character and Wellington's identity. The Town Belt, a legacy of Wellington's founding fathers, provides precious green space and outdoor recreation opportunities on the slopes of Mount Victoria. Restored heritage homes and a variety of architectural styles, from Victorian to Art Deco, are defining features of Mount Victoria's built heritage, as are two of Wellington's iconic buildings, St Gerard's Monastery, a prominent landmark overlooking Oriental Bay, and the Embassy Theatre.
The Mount Victoria Historical Society, founded in 1996, aims to:
- help protect and preserve the natural and built heritage of Mount Victoria, a heritage that is often under threat, and
- research and record the history of Mount Victoria, and share it with others
Our activities include:
- Guided walking tours of Mount Victoria and visits to notable buildings
- Talks by experts on Mount Victoria and Wellington history
- Publication of a regular newsletter and historical articles about Mount Victoria's personalities, places and events
- Making submissions on heritage issues to the Wellington City Council and other authorities
For more on Mount Victoria's rich and fascinating history, we invite you to browse our website. Better still, join us to help preserve Mount Victoria's heritage, receive a free copy of our publication Streets of Mt Victoria, and enjoy the other benefits of membership.
