Timeline for Glenside Reserve (Section 23)
1839 Maori walking trail across hills connecting Petone-Korokoro-Takapu-Porirua and Porirua-Takapu-to Ohariu and Makara (through Glenside) and Paparangi-to Ohariu and Makara (through Glenside). Hills to the east called Pukehuia. Local oral history recall a Pa site (near future railway viaduct). Elsdon Best recalls an old Maori trail from existing Halfway House on Section 23, south through Section 21, to where there were springs and a cultivated area visible into the 1970's. On Section 25 a 200 year old shell midden is found in 1998.
The British Government in London doesn't support the colonising of New Zealand or the New Zealand Company. In 1839, the New Zealand Company offer for sale in London, one acre town sections and 100 acre country sections. The future Glenside Reserve is on Section 23.
In London, a group of prospective emigrants meet to form “The First Colony of New Zealand”. Patricia Burns in "Fatal Success A history of the New Zealand Company" (1989, p.104) describes the committee as a mutual support group dedicated to ‘lay the foundations of Charitable, Scientific, Religious and other Institutions for the Colony'. To be on the committee, one had to buy five land orders. Edmund Halswall (1790-1874) was on the committee and his name is on Section 23.
1841 Edmund Storr Halswell arrives in New Zealand on the ship Lady Nugent on 17 March 1841, having been appointed by the New Zealand Company to the management of Native Reserves and Protector of Aboriginees. In May he was appointed a Magistrate and in February 1842 Judge of the Country Court. In 1845 he was one of the officers of the Militia for the Te Aro district. He did not live on Section 23 as his home was Goathurst, in Brooklyn. He returned to England in 1846. He held Section 23 until his death in 1874 when it passed to Hugh Beauchamp Halswell. It's believed the land was leased by the Halswell family until it was sold in 1908.
c1841 First Halfway House established on Section 24, on the west side of present day Glenside Road, which back then, was the main road north. Anthony and Susannah Wall offer accommodation, food and liquor in their home which became known as the Halfway House, being halfway between Wellington and Porirua. This part of the road was by-passed betwen 1846-1847 by the upgraded road to Porirua.
1846-1849 Between 1 May 1846 - 30 November 1849 an improved North Road from Johnsonville to Porirua, around to Pauatahanui and over the hill to Paekakariki was constructed.
Capt. Andrew Hamilton Russell, the Military Superintendent of the Road, wrote on the road map in 1849, the following description of the area between Johnsonville and Porirua:
"The distance from Hawtrey Church (Johnsonville) to the termination near Jacksons Ferry (Porirua) is 7 miles 4 chains, of which there is not half a mile of flat country but the road crossing an infinite number of small steep spurs thrown off from a range of hills supposed to run parallel with its direction, has from the number of log bridges which have been necessary have become much more expensive...Its general width is 15 feet and it was opened in December 1847 having occupied 18 months on its construction. The distance from Kaiwarra bridge to Jackson’s ferry is 11 miles 4 Furlongs and 33 yards."
The Halfway House marked on Section 23 on the road map. The approximate location is the former Twigland office and carpark. It was adjacent to an old ford across the stream, which was bridged. The house is occupied and managed by John Ward McKain (1816-1863). Between 1849-c1855, the McKain's provide accommodation, food and liquor for people travelling along the route. The house is an important meeting venue.
1855 The Clapham and Edwards family manage the Halfway House and it continues to be an important meeting venue, as well as providing accommodation and food.
1855 - 1857 Sarah (nee Tomliens) and Joseph Clapham
1857 - 1865 Mary Ann (nee Bould) and William Thomas Clapham
1866 - 1871 Elizabeth (nee Clapham) and William Edwards
1859 The Auckland General Post Office advertise for tenders for an overland mail service between Wellington and New Plymouth on 1 December 1859.
1866 Halfway House is a Mail Coach destination on the Wanganui-Porirua-Wellington route and continues to provide food and accomodation for travellers.
1874 Hugh Beauchamp Halswell inherits Section 23 on the death of Edmund Storr Halswell.
1877 Area administered by Makara Riding then became under Hutt County Council when Hutt County formed in 1877.
c 1870-1880 A new Halfway House built by horseman Alexander Brown (Scottish descent) and is named Gowan Bank. This is the house still standing today on Glenside reserve. It retains the name Halfway House and for many years is referred to as the "new" Halfway House. The "old" Halfway House remains on its site nearby. Brown is renound for his horsemanship of heavy horses i.e. strong horses used for doing heavy work such as hauling and ploughing.
1885 In 1885 the Manawatu Steam and Rail Company rail line between Johnsonville and Porirua is constructed across the hills and farms of early settlers in the Halfway, separating the main grazing land from the farm homesteads and the centre of farm operations. Section 23 was one of several affected, with the Company taking 3 1/2 acres. A railway viaduct is constructed across neighbouring Section 21. In 1937 the railway is by-passed with a tunnel. In 1950 the former railway land is used for motorway construction.
1891 Old Halfway House burns down.
1895-1896 From 1895 to 1896, Gowan Bank and Section 23 was leased to Fred Rogen, who bred poultry and Collie dogs, an ancient breed used in Scotland for herding sheep.
1900 Alexander Brown dies at Hawera on November 16, 1900. His body is brought back to St John Anglican Church, where he is buried in the Church cemetery. His wife moves to Pahiatua and dies in 1923, aged 79, and is buried at Mangatainoka cemetery.
1901 Gowan Bank (The Halfway House) and Section 23 is leased.
1908 Section 23 is sold by Hugh Beauchamp Halswell to Charles Izard, with the sale finalised in 1910. Izard is a bird fancier, having competed against Fred Rogen in the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, Canary and Dog Association Shows.
Izard was a prominent Wellington lawyer and politician who served as a Wellington City Councillor 1898-1907; MP for Wellington North 1905-08; and member of Legislative Council 1915-25. He and his wife Stella had one child, Keith (1887-1919) who died in England of pneumonia during World War I service.
The Izard's do not live on site. The Izard’s have their own home at Talavera Terrace and an impressive country home, 'Totara', situated at Maoribank, Upper Hutt. A few years earlier Izard had taken over management of his father’s large house ‘Woodmancote’ in Khandallah.
1908 Makara and Porirua ridings join to form Makara County, and the Halfway area is serviced by Makara County Council.
1919 Section 23 is sold to the New Zealand Meat Packing and Bacon Company
1923 Section 23 purchased by Philip Chetwoode Watt (1876-1940), well-known in Wellington for construction. Watt had recently completed the contract for the three-story reinforced concrete fellmongery at Ngahauranga for the New Zealand Meat Packing and Bacon Company Limited.
Watt came to Wellington in 1892 and joined the firm of J. and A. Wilson. In 1904 he founded the P. C. Watt Construction Company, building contractors and constructional engineers, becoming the managing director of the company. He was responsible for the construction of many prominent buildings in Wellington. One that survives today is Shed 22, the former Wellington Wool Store, corner of Taranaki and Cable Street.
In 1906 Mr. Watt married Jeannie Tait and they have two sons, Charles Michael Watt (1907- 1982) and Laurence Philip Watt (1909-1933) and adopt a neice, Mary. Watt is a member of the Wellington Rotary Club, the Miramar Golf Club and is a keen angler and sportsman.
He champions the history associated with the name Halfway House, develops a nine-hole golf course and subdivides Section 23 for the Glenside village. His wife gives the name Glenside to the Halfway.
He installs his nephews Charles Watt Fisher and John Fisher, who are cousins, in the house. They run a dairy farm. In 1929 John relinquishes the lease to return to Scotland. His 14 head herd is described by the auctioneers as “one of the best among the nearby farms”.
1927 Public works camp established on Section 23 and Section 21 for about 300 railway workers constructing railway tunnel.
1928 Locality name officially changes from Halfway House/The Halfway to Glenside.
1929 James Patrick Morris, Tunneller, Miner, killed falling down Railway lift shaft. Buried in Karori.
1930 Glenside Estate - The Watt’s subdivide part of Section 23 into 26 lots. These were offered for auction on Wednesday, 25 June, 1930 for ten pounds deposit, with balance due in five years at 6%. The marketing points included the short trip to town via the new railway deviation, the chance to buy land with prospective value, plenty of sunshine, rich gardening soil, frontages to the main road, and a bitumen road all the way to Tawa. This subdivision became the village of Glenside. Watt is required to provide a recreational reserve as part of the subdivision. This is reserve land on the north side of present day Westchester Drive.
1934 Glenside Tennis Club is formed on adjacent section 21.
1936 Nine-hole Glenside Golf Course opens. The front rooms of the Halfway House is used for Golf Club meetings and the tennis club are invited to share the rooms for a cup of tea. Public Works move onto Homer tunnel. Glenside Golf Club members still operating in 1944.
WWII Land used for NZ Army Camp. Public excluded.
1950 Motorway opens. It's constructed on former railway land and slices through Glenside farms incuding Section 23.
1951 Wellington City Council land purchase. Victoria College (Victoria University) extends onto Town Belt land. Wellington City Council purchase the Halfway House and its associated land for £6000 with £4000 pounds provided from Crown funds paid in compensation for the encroachment on Town Belt. Council intends using the land as a recreational reserve. The purchase came with tenants being T. Farrell (Cottage) and in the Halfway House, A. Richardson (Flat 1) T. Williamson (Flat 2) and a grazing licence was held W.A.B. Taylor.
1961-1989 Glenside Water Treatment Plant for sewerage is established on Glenside Reserve with opposition from locals who live and work beside the stream. The oxidation system was designed in Holland by R. Pasveer for the treatment of sewage from a small community of 2500. The treated effluent would be discharged into the stream running through Glenside Village down to Porirua harbour.
This was a temporary fix, intended for five years. It became operable in 1962 and remained in place until 1989, by which time there were 7000 people using the overloaded and failing system. For 30 years, the public were excluded from the site unless invited.
1965 Makara County dissolved. Glenside under Hutt County Council. Porirua declared a city.
1973 Hutt County Council, including Glenside, is absorbed into Wellington City Council.
1976 November. Wellington City Council Town Planning Department publish a Development Report proposing suburban housing in Grenada, Churton and Bridgetown. In the opening paragraph readers are alerted to the rugged terrain, from 30 m at Glenside to 300 m to the west and more than 400 m to the east. The Council hoped that planned development “would avoid the dangers of haphazard, unordered urban growth, which resulted in cruel scarring of the landscape, suburban sprawl, sterile, monotonous housing subdivisions, uneconomic commuting and the absence of facilities to satisfy social, recreational and cultural needs.”
The Development Report proposed an interchange for vehicles to access the motorway and a new railway station at Glenside. The interchange construction didn’t have the support of the Minister of Works and Development, Mr W. L. (Bill) Young, who felt Council needed to plan proper arterial routes to serve new areas first. The National Roads Board declined approval for a connection onto the motorway, and declined the extension of Mark Avenue onto land they owned. NZ Railways said there would be no railway platform until roading access and car parking was established. In December 1976, an extreme rainfall lifted the stream levels, resulting in flooding through the Glenside valley, with water levels rising in houses and sweeping vehicles away. Flood protection was also required.
1979 Halfway House listed as a historic house in the Wellington City Council Review of the District Scheme.
1983 Marist Northern Rugby League Football Club. In 1983 Wellington City Council approved that the Recreation Reserve, (the smaller Glenside Estate reserve contribution from 1930) be leased to the Marist Northern Rugby League Football Club, to enable a club house and 30 car parks to be built. There were no adjacent playing fields. A Club liquor licence was approved in 1987.
With the pending construction of the Glenside motorway interchange, the rugby clubrooms had to go. In 1993 the Northern Rugby League Clubrooms were removed from Glenside Reserve and relocated to Grenada North. In 1994 a gazette notice was issued declaring that parts of section 23 and section 25 were now road.
1988 During 1989 and early 1990, the City Council was consulting with Glenside and Churton Park residents on six roading connections to the proposed motorway interchange. Many of the roading options went through Glenside homes. Coupled with the interchange and roading options was a proposal for a flood retention dam across Stebbings Road and Stebbings stream and a landfill at Grenada.
Unknown to Glenside residents, the Council’s business unit was holding concurrent meetings to turn the recreational land into an industrial and commercial centre. An analysis of documents held in Wellington Archives show that City Engineer Lew Thorstensen and Council consultants Truebridge Callender Beach (TCB) were across all the proposals. The Council staff pushing the business park project proposal were Richard H Healy, Manager Economic Business Development Unit (EBDU) and City Solicitor Peter J Rama.
In 1988 the EBDU commissioned TCB to carry out a study of potential sites for a high-quality business park development. TCB advocated the Glenside recreational land. The TCB documents were signed by Rodney Callender and the Council use of TCB as consultants, when Callender’s held land that would benefit from Council’s proposals, was objected to as a conflict of interest by the Glenside Progressive Association, which they are to raise in their submissions to Council and with the Audit Office.
I989 April. Callender and Evans of TCB approach WCC Civil engineer R. W. Hodge with a proposal to realign Westchester Drive down Stebbings Road through the middle of Glenside village and through the reserve, suggesting the development of the land and adjacent Downers Yard could fund the link road to the motorway. Peter Marks, the drainage engineer responds there is little interest as the land is returning to Parks when the sewage treatment plant closed in a few months.
Memo from Civil Design Engineer R W Hodge to City Planner. Churton Park – Westchester Street extension to Middleton Road, State Highway 1 and Mid-Grenada. The future of the Glenside Sewage Treatment Plant. 4 April 1989. Wellington City Council Archives 00009-12/873 Part 3 (p.16)
1989 July 18th. City Engineer Thorstensen tells council officers the recreation land had been originally acquired in 1953 for cemetery purposes (This was untrue. In 1945 the City Council had looked at Taylor’s 156-acre farm in Glenside as potential cemetery, but studies found it too rocky and steep, so Makara was purchased instead).
The meeting suggests that when the proposed Grenada (Lincolnshire Farms) landfill closes, it could be made open space in exchange for uplifting the open space designation on the Council’s Glenside land.
Memo from R J Nanson, Director Parks & Recreation to City Secretary. Committee Report for Parks & Recreation Committee. 1 June 1990. Wellington City Council Archives, Wellington City Council Archives, 00001-68/58 Part 1-2 (p.41)
Makara Cemetery Site Appeal: Wellington. City Council v Makara County Council: Statement of Edwin Philip Norman. Wellington City Council Archives, 00001-7/2 Part 2.
1989 July 31st. Glenside residents are invited to attend the July 31 meeting of the Works and By-laws committee. Thorstensen calls the residents “the banana republic of Glenside” and tells them if they don’t like what is planned, they can shift out of the area.
Letter from Sheryl Hayman to the Town Clerk. 4 August 1989. Not sent, but held for the record. Glenside Progressive Association archives.
1989 Dispute between Parks and Reserves and other City Council Departments over the future use of Glenside Reserve. City Engineer and City Solicitor want to subdivide it into industrial and commerce business park. Parks want to retain it for recreation. In the interim, the land is approved for lease to Newlands/Paparangi Riding Club in 1989, which continues until 2024, with requirement to vacate land by May 2026.
1990, February. The Downer/EBDU Joint Venture Glenside Business Park Proposal report is presented to the Economic Development and City Promotion Committee. It is signed by Richard H Healy, Manager Economic Business Development Unit (EBDU) and City Solicitor Peter J Rama.
They make no mention of the Town Belt transaction and incorrectly said the recreation land was purchased in 1951 for a cemetery. Their report incorrectly states that the Halfway House structure had been moved several times and wasn’t on its original location.
The landscape plan shows that the access road from the proposed motorway interchange would go through the recreation land, through the Halfway House, and through the middle of housing in the Glenside village. The prospective market for the business park is IT industries, medical services and centres, and industrial village, a commercial village, and residential housing.
From N.S. Cowan, City Treasurer and P.D. Dawson, City Secretary, to the Town Clerk. Report to the Economic Development and City Promotion Committee. Downer/EBDU Joint Venture Glenside Business Park Proposal. 26 February 1990. Glenside Progressive Assn. archive.
1990 Audit Office findings are that Section 23 land purchase was intended as a recreation reserve and proper process for public consultation must be followed.
The report said that communication between five council departments involved in the issues was seriously flawed.
In relation to the Mid-Grenada – Churton Park motorway link road the Audit Office found that Council had breached the Town and Country Planning Act 1977 by not initiating necessary District Scheme zoning changes required. The developer [Callender] was able to continue development of the subdivision and construct dwellings on land zoned for other than residential purposes. As a result, ratepayers were denied the right to have their objections heard. The Audit office pointed out that although the developer said he was proceeding with housing construction on the instructions of Council the developer should have been experienced enough to alert Council to the issues. The Audit office concluded that a “conscious judgement should be made to either accept or reject the existence of the conflict of interest. In practical terms, this would entail a resolution of the Council whether to continue to retain TCB, or whoever, as their consultants.”
Letter and Audit Office Report from T. P. H. Emo to Sheryl P Hayman, Glenside Action Group. Report on ratepayer concerns regarding the administration of Glenside land and Churton Park sub-division Stage 20. 5 October 1990. Glenside Progressive Association Inc. archives. Copy also in WCC archives.
The Evening Post (1990) ran a three-column article with the byline “An Audit Office report has criticised Wellington City’s handling of development around Glenside and told Council to sort it out.”
Audit Office Finds Fault at Glenside. (10 October 1990, p. 3). The Evening Post.
1991 In March 1991 the Parks and Recreation Committee agree to release part of the Glenside Reserve for the construction of the Westchester Drive link road from the Motorway to Middleton Road. An additional 966m2 land is taken from the reserve to widen Middleton Road to service the access.
1991 The Economic Business Development Unit (EBDU). Wellington City Council, commission a report on the viability of a business park on the reserve land, which was circulated in July 1991. The study was compiled and coordinated by Paul Frater of BERL utilising the services of Business and Economic Research Ltd, Australasian Property Consultants Ltd and the National Research Bureau Ltd. The comprehensive work, A marketing study of the proposed Glenside business park revealed that in the short term, the business park was a high financial risk.
Paul Frater presented to Council on broader economic development strategies recommended for Wellington City. These likely addressed the findings that the rail did not service the airport, the airport was difficult to get to and outdated, and people didn't find Wellington attractive to move to, because of its climate.
Peter Healy, Manager EBDU & Chris Mitchell, Acting City Solicitor to Economic Development and City Promotion Committee. 24 July 1991. Wellington City Council Archives, 00277-1179 (p. 23-26).
1991 Tourism Resource Consultants complete their report, Glenside Reserve Recreation Study, in April 1991. The report identified the site was best for soft recreation such as family outings, kick about space, walking and running. It was considered a vital link in recreation provision in the area because it offered shelter from the wind. The Halfway House was seen as having a role however this was not defined.
The report offered two options of three - a multiple use recreation area, incorporating the Pony Club; or a compromise recreation-business park. The consultants did point out that any form of commercial development on the site would ‘fetter all future options for use on the reserve.” The third option, to continue with the current lease to the Newlands Paparangi Horse Riding Society, was not supported as it provided limited access for other users. Nothing came of this report and the Riding Society remained.
Glenside Reserve Recreation Study (1991). Tourism Resource Consultants. Wellington City Council Archives, 00551-15.
1993 April. A subdivision of the Downer and Company Ltd land enabled Twigland Gardeners World to purchase part of the original Section 23. This parcel of land included the section taken by Railways in 1928 for overseers houses, and where the old Halfway House site (1849-1891) once stood.
The surveyors, acting for new owner Don Liddle, propose that Council subdivide their Halfway House block and sell it to Twigland – in return Liddle would lease the Halfway House and open a café. Before Council could properly respond to this proposal, a resource consent was notified in July 1993, for the garden centre, along with a café in the Halfway House. Roger Still, Parks Planning wrote to Don Liddle, his surveyors and solicitors about the lack of courtesy for not communicating their intentions to put the Halfway House in the consent application.
There were objections from the community defending the Halfway House, Town Belt land and reserve status. The Hearing concludes that the Garden Centre proceed without the Halfway House and its surrounds.
1993 The Clerk of Works for the Council, who had carried out an inspection of the Halfway House in September, writes to the Parks Planner recommending the house be demolished, as it had deteriorated, and he felt any money spent on it was a waste. (Works have a bad reputation in Glenside due to the Water Treatment Plant, proposed Business Park and roading plans on the reserve).
Memo from Kevin Doyle Clerk of Works to Roger Still, Parks Planner. 11 October 1993. Wellington City Council Archives, 00444-6/32/4 Part 2 (p. 35-36)
The Liddle’s solicitors propose that they support Historic Places Trust (who had visited the property with Council officials) to restore the house and in return asked that a large area of the Halfway House section owned by Council be exchanged for a small area of stream esplanade, with the cash difference paid to Council. This proposal is not supported by Council.
1995 Wellington City Council approved the Recreation Reserve where the rugby club rooms were, to be used by Gecko Limited as a vermiculture operation – a worm farm and composting site – for a 12 month trial only.
1995 Glenside Reserve is officially gazetted as a reserve.
1996 The motorway interchange and Westchester Drive was constructed through the Glenside Reserve, cutting it in two.
1998 In December 1993, Council developed a process to decide the future of their houses in reserve land. In the long list of surplus houses tabled 1 July 1998, were five Parks houses on land classified as reserve land under the Reserves Act 1977. Two of these were on Glenside Reserve, the Halfway House (246 Middleton Road) and the caretakers house (250 Middleton Road). Council prepared the subdivision of the properties and was about to revoke the reserve status, when it was realised that a mistake had been made in the order of the process. The reserve revocation process had many steps including that Council had to publicly notify it and justify to Central Government the reasons for their decision, and this had not been done.
2001 Thursday, 23 August. Glenside residents meet at Herbs Cafe in the evening to discuss the identity and character of Glenside they wanted to save. The consensus is that Glenside is a special and unique place, characterized by its streams, landforms, history, bird life and green spaces.
The community want Glenside to be retained as green area for recreational users, with strong emphasis on its historical character, the trees, the living streams and rural space. Glenside Reserve was to be made legal reserve (it already was, but no one had informed the community); the Halfway House to be turned into a community asset, even a museum, and access re-established between Glenside Reserve and the land on the other side of the motorway i.e. Seton Nossiter Park
2002 Blessing of the streams hosted by Glenside Progressive Association with Ngāti Toa and St John Anglican Church, before stream restoration commences in Glenside. Glenside Progressive Assn. Inc. makes submissions to City Council for restoration of Halfway House and Glenside suburb status.
2003 September. Following a review in 2000 the five Council properties on reserve land were bought to the table again, with the recommendation to publicly notify Council’s intention to revoke the reserve status under the Reserves Act 1977.
By December however, there had been a shift in Council thinking and it is recommended that the sale of the Glenside Reserve properties is not progressed unless supported by the Northern Reserves plan and in respect of the Halfway House, a heritage evaluation outcome.
2003 November 2nd. The Glenside Progressive Association host an Open Day at the historic Halfway House on 2003 to gauge support for Council retaining, protecting and restoring the house, and to seek possible uses of the house and grounds. About 700 people attend from as far afield as Palmerston North, Waikanae and the Wairarapa. Visitors are treated to a heritage and contemporary photo display compiled by the Association, who also provided handouts with a photo and history of the house. Onslow Historic Society sell copies of the recently published Glenside heritage booklet.
Visitors are invited to write their ideas for the future of the house and garden and these are compiled by the Association into a report for Council and community. The findings are that people did not want Council to sell The Halfway House. The main reasons given for retaining the house were its heritage value, value as public amenity and the relationship of the building to Glenside Reserve. There is strong support to return the land to gardens and lawns.
2004 Ian Bowman, conservation architect, is commissioned by the Council to undertake a report on conserving the Halfway House. Julia Williams of Drakeford Williams Ltd, Registered Landscape Architects, is commissioned to write a Future Options Report for the larger Glenside Reserve and Halfway House. The Glenside Streamcare Group write a report on their vision for the Glenside Reserve, and the Glenside Progressive Association survey the community on how the smaller Glenside Reserve, (the former rugby club rooms and composting site) could be used.
2007 Halfway House is again listed on the Wellington District Plan as an historic site and building.
The Association, concerned that Council will again try to sell off part of the reserves, write to the Hon. Chris Carter, Minister for the Department of Conservation, advising their opposition to selling any land associated with the Glenside Reserves or the historic Halfway House. They ask for the reserves to remain recreational use as originally intended.
2008 The draft Northern Reserves Management Plan released for consultation propose that the Halfway House land would be subject to a zone change from Recreational Reserve to Local Purpose Reserve -the latter less about conservation and heritage values and more about provision of services and infrastructure.
Glenside Progressive Association oppose the change. The Council agree not to make it Local Purpose, but kept options open by saying a future reserve classification will be determined after a sustainable use for the house is proposed. The draft plan proposes the redevelopment of Glenside Reserve and the restoration of the Halfway House.
2010 First community streamside restoration planting at Halfway House. Memorandum of Understanding between Wellington City Council (Parks) and Glenside Progressive Association Inc. signed. The shared objectives are:
Improve the Reserve ecology
Improve the condition of the riparian zone of streams and waterways within the Reserve
Educate people about the ecology of the reserve
Develop and implement landscape and revegetation plans
Enhance the rural qualities of the Reserve
Protect and enhance the historic sites and areas of historic interest in the Reserve, including the Halfway House
Educate people about the history of the Reserve
Preserve the archaeological elements of the Reserve and Halfway House precinct.
Planting
2014 The Halfway House section is changed from recreation reserve to historic reserve per section 18 of the Reserves Act 1977. This is supported by Onslow Historic Society, Wellington Early Settlers Assn. Historic Places NZ and local esident Claire Bibby. Halfway House Heritage Gardeners established. Wellington City Council commission Halfway House Landscape Plan.
2015 October. Just days before renovations are due to be signed off, a crimped fire sprinkler pipe in the ceiling burst free and for three days water floods the Halfway House. The weight of the water brings the ceilings down and pushes skirting boards off the walls. It takes months for insurance to be resolved and for the house to dry properly before restoration begins in the last week of February 2017.
2015 November 10th. Blessing. At the invitation of City Council and Glenside Progressive Association, Ngāti Toa and the Minister for St John Anglican Church, Johnsonville, bless the Halfway House. Attendees includ Ngāti Toa, Glenside community, and former residents of the house.
2017 Official opening of the restored Halfway House.
2021 Halfway House public rooms opened for hire.
2021-2022 Glenside Reserve loop tracks constructed by Wellington City Council following submissions from Glenside Progressive Association Inc.
2023 - 2024 Glenside Progressive Association host walks with local authority officials, Glenside residents and wider community on Glenside Reserve to discuss its future. Feedback is to return it to a natural wildlife area with stream restoration and protection of ground nesting birds.
In November, Wellington City Council Regulatory committee do not renew the horse grazing lease, however allow the lessor to remain until May 2026.
2025 Wellington City Council engage Morphum to undertake a water plan for the reserve. Glenside Progressive Assn Inc. receive a grant to engage Wildlife Management International Ltd to develop a strategy and landscape plan to bring birds back to the reserve.