JACKSON STREET

Jackson Street was not originally intended to be Petone’s main street

Nelson Street, known in the late 1800’s as Petone Avenue, was the main business street. However, its north-south axis was not suitable for a number of reasons including the prevailing winds!

What began to develop was an east-west access along the boundary of the various properties owned by Edwin Jackson (prominent landowner & Borough Councillor). Mr Jackson was willing to sell sections along his boundaries for people to set up stores with the provision of a right-of-way. The first four stores were general stores and within a few years other shops began to sprout up along the edge of Jackson’s farm.

Jackson Street is not straight!

Early Jackson Street also varied greatly in width from end-to-end. It extended from what is now Nelson Street to Beach Street, with access to Hutt Road via an informal track across Maori-owned land. Jackson Street was extended when the land was bought by the Petone Borough Council solicitor on behalf of the Crown in 1888.

The crookedness was a problem first considered in 1885 but not addressed until 1926 when major developments in Lower Hutt promised an increase in traffic and population in Petone. The Borough Council began work to straighten and widen the street in 1926. 28 properties were affected with most buildings jacked up and moved back about 20 metres – the work taking 12 years, was finally completed in 1938.