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BUILDING JOHNSONVILLE

A photographic history of Johnsonville’s transformation.
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BUILDING JOHNSONVILLE

A photographic history of Johnsonville’s transformation.
Saturday, January 25, 2025
until
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Building Johnsonville is a photographic exhibition by Photography Aotearoa, exploring the development of Johnsonville from dense native forest to a thriving suburban centre. Featuring rarely seen historical images, the exhibition traces the transformation of the landscape, infrastructure, and community over time.
Waitohi
34 Moorfield Rd, Johnsonville.
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Prior to European settlement, the area now known as Johnsonville was a dense forest of tōtara, rātā, hīnau and rimu, traversed by a Māori track that became known as the ‘Old Porirua Road’ but with no indigenous inhabitants.

The township of Johnsonville was established by Frank Johnson and others who built their homes around 1840. Native bush on Johnson's 100 acre block was soon felled and milled to help construct Wellington city. 'Johnson's Clearing'became primarily a residential and farming community. In 1886 the Cobb & Co. coach service increased access. The main trunk line arrived in 1886, providing a great boon to business and population growth. Johnsonville officially became a town in 1896.

In 1937 the Main Trunk Line, which ran through Johnsonville and along the route of what is now SH1 before heading over the Belmont Viaduct, was altered. The old line terminated at Johnsonville Railway Station. Electric units began operating on this line from 1938, providing a much improved commute to Wellington.

Johnsonville Road has been lined with shops and amenities since the 19th century, but when Johnsonville Mall opened in 1969, many of the main street shops moved into it. The main street survived, though, and the mall's future now has a question mark over it.

Note on the photographs:

We sought out photos that have not already been widely used and circulated. Some are well known but many were digitised specially for this project. It was hard to find good-quality photos of people that were not posed and static. We would've like more, because while buildings, roads and railways are the building blocks of a town, people make it a community.

This photographic display by Photography Aotearoa was funded by grants from the Johnsonville Charitable Trust and Wellington City Council. We would like to thank the Onslow Historical Society for use of several photographs from their public collection, Amanda McVitty for research assistance, and members of the Johnsonville Memories and Old Friends online community for local knowledge and enthusiasm.

Galleries
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North-bound train ca. 1912. Courtesy of Onslow Historical Society.
North-bound train leaving Johnsonville, ca. 1912. Courtesy of Onslow Historical Society.
Old Belmont Viaduct December 1951. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
The blowing up of the old Belmont Viaduct (built 1903 – 4), north of Johnsonville, near the Churton Park entrance, December 1951. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Johnsonville Railway Station July 1938. Photographer: Graham Tuaraki Radcliffe. Courtesy of WCC.
Electrification opening day, Johnsonville Railway Station, July 1938. Photographer: Graham Tuaraki Radcliffe. Courtesy of WCC.
Johnsonville looking east. Photographer: John B. Turner. Courtesy of the artist.
Johnsonville looking east from J. B. Turner’s childhood home, 8 May 1966, with Broderick Rd in the background. Photographer: John B. Turner. Courtesy of the artist.
Gary at the back of J. B. Turner’s childhood home. Photographer: John B. Turner. Courtesy of the artist.
Gary at the back of J. B. Turner’s childhood home on Johnsonville Road, 8 May 1966, with Broderick Rd in the background. Photographer: John B. Turner. Courtesy of the artist.
Johnsonville Road, early 1950s. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Johnsonville Road, early 1950s, with Broderick Rd corner on the left. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Moorefield Rd ca. 1925–1929. Photographer: Sydney Charles Smith. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Moorefield Rd with truck, and the photographer’s motorcycle and sidecar, ca. 1925–1929. Photographer: Sydney Charles Smith. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Unusable pedestrian crossing1966. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Unusable pedestrian crossing, intersection of Burma Rd, Moorefield Rd and Haumia St, 1966. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Truck driver at petrol station, Johnsonville, 1969. Photographer: John B. Turner. Courtesy of the artist.
Truck driver at petrol station, Johnsonville, 1969. Photographer: John B. Turner. Courtesy of the artist.
Stop sign with Morris Minor, 8 August 1956 Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Stop sign with Morris Minor, 8 August 1956, looking east from Broderick Rd. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Blacksmith 1957. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Blacksmith working at his anvil, with a schoolboy watching, 1957. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Blacksmith shop, Johnsonville Rd, 1957. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Blacksmith shop, Johnsonville Rd, 1957. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Plunket Nurse the late Anne Jeune at the left, 973. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Plunket Nurse the late Anne Jeune at the left, at 34 Moorefield Rd, corner of Wanaka St, on the site of the future Waitohi Library and Community Hub, 1973. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Community centre, December 1974. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Community centre, 4 Wanaka St, and drop-in centre, 34 Moorefield Rd, December 1974. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
The ‘Mayor of Johnsonville’, Douglas Barlow June 1951. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
The ‘Mayor of Johnsonville’, Douglas Barlow, meets local rugby players as part of a fundraiser for the blind, June 1951. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
New flats,. Evening Post. Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library.
New flats, 1975, corner of Frankmoore Ave & Phillip St, demolished in 2016. Formerly the site of Ms Gibbs’ house. Evening Post. Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library.
The Old Coach Road. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
The Old Coach Road, ‘a pleasant walk or horseback ride over the Johnsonville Hills to Ohariu Valley’, with the new main road visible at the right, 1963. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Rebuilding Ngauranga Gorge, ca. 1939, with Fraser Ave on the right. Courtesy of Onslow Historical Society.
Rebuilding Ngauranga Gorge, ca. 1939, with Fraser Ave on the right. Courtesy of Onslow Historical Society.
The new highway, 1965, Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
The new highway, 1965, above the Tip Top factory, looking north. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
The new reservoir being built above Johnsonville, November 1973. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
The new 26 foot high, 100 foot diameter, 1,000,000 gallon reservoir being built above Johnsonville, November 1973. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
80 foot high freezer adjacent to the Johnsonville motorway, December 1970. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
The new 80 foot high freezer adjacent to the Johnsonville motorway, built at a cost of $400,000 for General Foods Corporation NZ Ltd, December 1970. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Construction of the Johnsonville bypass road, 1957. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Construction of the Johnsonville bypass road, 1957. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Shell Service Station, October 1967. Wellington City Council staff photographer. Courtesy of WCC.
Shell Service Station, corner Ohariu Rd and Bassett Rd, Johnsonville, October 1967. Wellington City Council staff photographer. Courtesy of WCC.
Site of the Johnsonville Shopping Centre, February 1969. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Site of the Johnsonville Shopping Centre, February 1969. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Site of the Johnsonville Shopping Centre, February 1969. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Site of the Johnsonville Shopping Centre, February 1969. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
A lack of footpaths, January 1975. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
A lack of footpaths on Chesterton St led to residents threatening to withhold rates payments, January 1975. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Flooding on Johnsonville Rd, 20 December 1976. Courtesy of Wellington City Council.
Flooding on Johnsonville Rd, 20 December 1976. Courtesy of Wellington City Council.
Johnsonville Shopping Mall, 1973. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Johnsonville Shopping Mall, 1973. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Johnsonville Shopping Mall, 1970s. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Johnsonville Shopping Mall, 1970s. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Motor show at Johnsonville Shopping Mall, June 1970. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Motor show at Johnsonville Shopping Mall, June 1970. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Boy sitting on Sammy the Seal, Johnsonville Shopping Mall, July 1973. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Boy sitting on Sammy the Seal, Johnsonville Shopping Mall, July 1973. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Corner of Middleton and Moorefield Roads, Johnsonville. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Corner of Middleton and Moorefield Roads, Johnsonville. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
The Railway Hotel, ca. 1900, Courtesy of Onslow Historical Society.
The Railway Hotel, ca. 1900, established in the 1880s, and demolished in 1993 to make way for KFC’s car park. Courtesy of Onslow Historical Society.
Pamela Chester protesting the demolition of the Railway Hotel, Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
Pamela Chester protesting the demolition of the Railway Hotel, December 1992, with one of 1500 fliers she distributed. Evening Post. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library.
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