Mr Ward’s Map: Early Wellington Street by Street by Elizabeth Cox

This book is utterly extraordinary! In 1891, surveyor Thomas Ward completed a comprehensive map of Wellington, from Thorndon in the north to inner-city Te Aro to Berhampore in the south, which was updated regularly over the next 10 years. As well as the streets, it has every dwelling, including homes, hotels, theatres, brothels, shops, stables, and Parliament, the Town Belt, prisons and much more.  

This substantial hardback reproduces the giant map, breaking it down into smaller areas, and historian Elizabeth Cox brings each area to life during Victorian times with her insightful text. Numerous photos are also included.

The original map comprised 88 sheets, and in the pages of this book the author brings Victorian Wellington vividly to life – from the wealthy landowners in Thorndon to the rough-and-tumble of the poor living in Te Aro, with no drainage or sanitation.

Elizabeth Cox specialises in architectural and women’s history, so this book is a wonderful blend of both, and it’s clear that women in this era were a key part of the city's vibrancy. They were running businesses, lobbying politicians, working in factories, and raising their families.  Some became criminals, some were high society, and others were just struggling to get by.  The stories of individuals are fascinating, as are those of organisations such as the Salvation Army, which help huge numbers of destitute people through their charity work. Seeing the maps with the large houses of the wealthy highlights how terrible the conditions were for large numbers of people living in slum conditions in narrow alleyways and in tiny shacks.

Mr Ward’s Map is a treasure and an extraordinary labour of love by Thomas Ward, who created the original maps with intricate detail, and by author Elizabeth Cox, whose extensive research and well-crafted text make it a work of art. This is a book to enjoy now and to hand down to future generations.  

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Massey University Press, RRP $90