Home for Ex Servicewomen 20 Moturoa Street, Wellington

[kentishkiwi]

Hi Everyone

Hoping someone can help. I recently found out my great aunt , who served in WW1 lived here in the 1950s. I  would like to know a bit more about its history e.g. How long was it a home for returned service women. Any help would be great. I did see the images online in the national library and also had a quick look on google satelite to see it is still there.
Hopefully someone local can help.
Many thanks in advance.
KK

[minniehaha]

Hi KK,

I think your best bet might be to contact the National Library as mentioned in your post.


Minniehaha. 

[Lucy2]

Link to the National Library photo - 20 Moturoa Street :

https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23079235?search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject%5D=Moturoa+Street&search%5Bpath%5D=items

Will see what else I can find ...

    ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

Hi KK

https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/search?keywords=20+Moturoa+Street&listview=list&ntids=WzUyXQ%3D%3D

^  Above link should take you to the Wellington City Council Archives.

The information given at that site, relates in the main, to building permits issued by the Council at various times.   
But if you sift through the entries, you'll often find the names of the buildings owners are mentioned.
 
Added ... there are 5 items for # 20 Moturoa Street (the next listed is info for # 20 Motueka Street - a different place) ... don't get caught out like I did. 


It looks as if the building itself dates from 1930.   

Can tell you it is a picturesque house - I've often driven past it.

Will keep looking for any further info.

    ~  Lu

Edited to add additional info.

[Lucy2]

KK

Use "Google street view" - Wellington NZ,  to see what the house looks like today.

The area is Thorndon - but Pipitea, which will come up in a search, is the Maori name for this locality.

Search on both  > 20 Moturoa Street ... and 5 Hobson Street for best views.
Number 18 Moturoa Street, which is "linked" with number 20 in some of those Wellington City Council plans online, is these days obscured from street view by a tall fence and foliage.

There's lots of info available for Thorndon (Pipitea) Wellington if you google those names.  (Too much to go into, in this thread.     ]

    ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

Hi KK

The NZ National Library photo does say that the building (house) at 20 Moturoa Street, was purchased by the Wellington Returned Services Association ( ...  a.k.a.  R.S. A. ).

So again, google is your friend ... and there seems to be quite a lot written about the Associations'  activities during war time and the years after. 

I see also (at WCC Archives link given earlier) that in June 1961, 20 Moturoa Street was owned by the New Zealand Patriotic Fund Board ... so some more googling for you perhaps ?   

       ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/women-together/rsa-womens-sections

Link to NZ Returned Services - Women's Sections ... may be of help or of interest ? 

["kentishkiwi"  ... I see you're in England ... but being "kiwi" I suspect now you probably already know some of the institutions mentioned in links given here ??     ]

    ~   Lu 

[Lucy2]

KK  ... don't forget our PapersPast site.   

Always lots of helpful "stuff" there ...

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers

[kentishkiwi]

Hi Lu and Minniehaha

I am impressed. Thank you so much for your tips. I have plenty to get on with.
Yes, I am a kiwi but I am always finding out about new sources. Wellington isn't an area I know at all and didn't know about the city council records.  I have also just found the Wairarapa Archives while researching this same aunt and they have been so helpful.
I find the PapersPast site a terrific resource as it is free

This research keeps me busy while still in our long lockdown.
Regards
KK