Old images of Cuba street

Cuba Street, 1855, showing Mr. R. Miller's bakery, locality of Godber's, now Dustin's.


Cuba Street in the 'seventies. Barber's dye
works to the right. The Nag's Head and Wesleyan
Church in the distance, to the left.


Cuba Street, 1900. The Royal Oak is on the extreme foreground to the left. The Nags Head
(Alhambra) by the clock on the right. Te Aro House (with the tower) has been converted into the
Burlington Arcade.


Winder's Corner (now James Smith), 1904, corner of Cuba and Manners Streets, near the locality
of a former residence of Mr. W. B. Rhodes. The Grand Opera House is on the extreme right.

Cuba Street, extended, in 1841, from the water front behind Manners Street, to Ingestre Street (now Vivian). In 1845, a worthy citizen of Wellington plodded his way through fern and ti-tree to Te Aro flat in search of the surveyor's peg, which had been driven in at the corner of Cuba and Dixon Streets. Upon this spot a small house and shop were erected in which a very successful drapery business was carried on by two ladies named Smith. Later, Mr. J. Smith (no relation to the Misses Smith) bought the business, which became long and favourably known as Te Aro House.

There was only one house in Cuba Street in 1850. In 1857 a five-roomed house and garden was offered for sale by Mr. W. H. Rotermund. The garden was stocked with fruit trees of every description, a well of water, and outhouse.