Twenty-Eight Photographic Views of Wellington & Suburbs

This booklet containing a selection of photographs of Wellington in the early 20th century was likely released as a tourist souvenir publication. No credit has been printed as to who the photographer or publisher was. Though it is undated, several clues can be found in the photographs. Firstly, images of the Wellington Town Hall and Victoria University's Hunter Building are shown only as artistic impressions. The design of the Town Hall was finalised in 1901 but it did not open until December 1904 whereas construction of the Hunter Building did not commence until August 1904. Secondly, street scenes show no sign of electrified trams operating or their required infrastructure being constructed. Horse-drawn trams and their tracks can still be seen in Lambton Quay and electric trams did not start operating within the CBD until the second half of 1904. These factors indicate that this booklet was most likely published in either 1902 or 1903.