Wellington Airport Development

Wellington Airport Development 
A series of albums created by Ron Cameron

Only five years after the opening of the Rongotai Aerodrome in 1928 investigations began on the viability of a bigger, more modern airport. It wasn't until 1950 that the 'Rongotai Terrace Scheme' was proposed and eventually adopted. This was an alternative to the previous plan to extend the aerodrome westward over Salek Street. Both plans were controversial; the Salek Street scheme involved taking over the site of Rongotai College and the Centennial Exhibition buildings, while the Rongotai Terrace scheme would see the erasure of entire residential streets.

Ronald Cameron, then aged 25, lived with his family in Wexford Road. At this stage Ron had already been working at the National Film Unit for some time and was a keen hobby photographer. As it became apparent that the new airport development would cut through his neighborhood, he began meticulously documenting the progress. Ron’s photographs of his neighborhood are a great insight into the suburb of Rongotai pre-airport. With these images we can visualise streets that no longer exist as well as the immense effort that went into the removal of Rongotai Terrace hill.

Thanks to his efforts (and subsequent donation of the albums to the Library) we can witness the changing shapes of Kilbirnie and Rongotai in the 1950’s. Over this time approximately 3 million cubic metres of spoil was taken from the hills in Rongotai and used for reclamation. The Coutts Street subway was built as well as the brand-new Calabar Road and roundabouts. Finally, the Wellington International Airport opened officially in 1959.

Read more about how Rongotai changed from residential suburb to an international airport at our blog.

Ron curated three full albums covering the development of Wellington Airport. The contents of each album are very similar, though cover various themes:

• Book one
  - Views of Kilbirnie and Rongotai prior to the construction of the airport. 
  - Newspaper articles and photographs covering the first houses to be removed from the airport zone.
  - Photographs taken during the construction of the Lyall Bay (Moa Point) breakwater.
• Book two
  - Photographs of the reclamation of Evans Bay, including the use of a conveyor belt.
  - The removal of Rongotai Terrace.
  -  Changes in plans regarding the position of terminal buildings and whether the Airport would be used for international travel.
  - Closure of Rongotai Aerodrome and removal of buildings.
  - The Coutts Street pedestrian subway.
• Book three
  - The Evans Bay Patent slip and flying boat base.
  - The Masport Cup held in Evans Bay.