Category: Mostly flat but quite a few steps and steep street to reach monastery
Meet at Plimmer statue at 12.30pm, walk to Stewart Dawson’s corner, cross and walk up Willeston St, turn right and walk along Jervois Quay and then use the overbridge south of the Telecom building to get to Frank Kitts Park. Walk along waterfront to Waitangi Park and then to Oriental Parade, cross at first zebra crossing, take Prince Street steps, walk a little way up Roxburgh St and turn left into McFarlane St and walk past St Gerard’s and then take steps down to Oriental Parade and then head back to city.
History: From McFarlane St you can observe some historical points of interest. What is now called Oriental Bay was formerly called Clyde Quay which was named after an early immigrant ship that came to Wellington. The current fire station was formerly the site of Clyde Quay school. The Clyde Quay wharf was built in about 1905 but was replaced by Overseas Passenger Terminal in 1963.
St Gerard's: The church on the right was
built between 1907 and 1910 (architect J C Swan). The monastery was built for
the Redemptorist monks in 1932 and was funded by public donations during the
middle of the Great Depression. The Redemptorists first arrived in NZ in 1883
and they required a base from which they could travel the country inspiring
Catholics to a greater faith. The 3 storied monastery allowed the priests to
accommodate guests and hold retreats. The monastery was designed by Frederick
deJersey Clere, a well known architect who also designed St Mary's in Boulcott
St. It was built as an extension to the church. Increasing rates and declining
numbers forced the redemptorists to sell the building in 1988. The proposed sale
caused great concern, but this was relieved when it was bought by the
International Catholic Programme of Evangelisation in 1992 for use as a retreat
and training centre.
To walk 6
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