Family History
Tramway Department, 1905 (Wellington City Archives)
Family historians and genealogy researchers can find a wealth of information at the Wellington City Archives.
Rating & Valuation Records (1863-present)
Rating records give information about the owner and occupier and provide a description of the property, its value and rates. These records can provide background material on individuals and their lives. Records are available for Wellington City Council and predecessor organisations.
Minute Books (1870-1992)
Minutes are a written record of all matters discussed in meetings of Boards, Council and Committees. In earlier years, these often deal with everyday topics such as employment and correspondence from citizens and business people. Searching the indexes can uncover interesting details about family connections, particularly if they were a significant business or land owner.
Early Correspondence (1878-1926)
Topics covered here reflect the full range of Council activities within each department including correspondence with the public. This is a good genealogical resource for people who were either employed by, or in communication with, the Council.
Publications (c. 1900-present)
Particularly useful Council publications include:
- Yearbooks – information on mayors and councillors, city services, cultural organisations, committees and council departments, with photos.
- Staff Publications – information on work and social activities of staff, with photos.
Staff Records (c. 1920-1990)
These records can be a good first step in accessing further records. They provide details about former staff including name, date of birth, marital status, superannuation, date of appointment, department, position, salary, education and qualifications. Not all staff records are retained. They are subject to privacy legislation.
Cemetery Records (1892-1992)
Original burial records are available for Bolton/Sydney Street, Karori and Makara cemeteries. Cremation records are available for Karori, but it’s best to contact Karori Cemetery first because their database offers quicker access to information.
Building Records (1892-present)
- Permits and consents – names and addresses of domestic and commercial building owners, and the names of their builders and architects.
- Building files – relating to property subdivision, encroachments, health and sanitation, tenders, contracts, town planning, and water and electrical services. Locating individuals here may be time-consuming unless you know of specific issues they were involved in.
Photographs (1860-present)
This large collection includes photos of early settlers, staff, mayors and councillors, visiting dignitaries and personalities, streets and buildings, major events and businesses.
Collected Archives
The collected archives can also be a good source for family history. Especially useful are the archives from:
- Union Steam Ship Company Ltd
- Wellington Competitions Society.
Related Links
Department Details:
Archives
