On 22 January 1840, the first of the New Zealand Company's ships, the Aurora, arrive din Petone, marking the founding of the settlement that would become known as Wellington.

The new town, named in honour of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, was established to promote a British colony in New Zealand. William Wakefield, the Company's New Zealand agent, left instructions for the settlement to be laid out around Lambton Harbour. However, the Company's chief surveyor, William Mein Smith, placed the town near the mouth of the Hutt River. Unfortunately, early European inhabitants of the region did not realise that the Hutt River was prone to flooding.

On his return from England a few months later, Wakefield moved the town to less flood-prone Lambton Harbour. The land had not been sold by its Māori occupants, but this did not stop the company subdividing it into town acres. One tenth of these were kept for Māori use. A green reserve running around the edge of the settlement was also set aside. This became known as the Town Belt.

The map above is part of the Ministry of Works and Development records held by Archives New Zealand. The department was established in 1870 to undertake public works such as the construction of roads, railways, bridges and public buildings. Archives Reference: AADX W3142 51 (R21084707)

Further information about the settlement of Wellington can be found here: www.nzhistory.net.nz/wellington-anniversary-day

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