Why does Grenada Village have such a unique name? Grenada Village is a residential suburb in Wellington. It sits in the northern hills. Let’s explore the fascinating story behind its naming and development.
Grenada Village lies on the eastern side of the Northern Motorway. It is 2 kms north of Johnsonville. It is also 12 kms north of central Wellington. As of November 2019, Grenada Village had 645 homes. Around 1,800 residents called it home. New homes are always being built. The suburb is modern and well-maintained. Real estate agents consider it a desirable place to live. Grenada Village enjoys all-day sun and rural views. Advertisements regularly describe it as sun-drenched.
Grenada Village is a quiet suburb. It provides a good, safe, friendly environment. Good roads, street lighting, footpaths, walkways, and street signs add to its appeal. The Community Association actively promotes Grenada Village. They work to improve its amenities and facilities. Bruce Patterson is the Chairperson. He says Grenada Village is a nice area and a good place to live. It is unique and has its own identity. Grenada Village is modern, clean, tidy, and extremely sunny. It has good facilities and substance. Good citizens display good citizenship here.
But why “Grenada Village”? And why do the streets have West Indian names? In 1976, the Wellington City Council decided to honor a significant figure. They wanted to recognize the first landowner and settler of Wellington. This person was part of the initial colonisation of New Zealand.
Thomas Drake and his family arrived in Wellington on January 21, 1840. They came from London aboard the Aurora. Drake bought part of the land that is now Grenada Village. Thomas Drake was a descendant of John Drake. John was the brother of Sir Francis Drake. John accompanied Francis on the Golden Hind around the world. He served on his brother’s flagship during the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. John Drake also inherited Sir Francis Drake’s will.
To connect this area to a famous explorer, Grenada Village streets have West Indian names. Grenada is an island in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. It is the southernmost of the Windward Islands. Christopher Columbus discovered Grenada in 1498.
The streets in Grenada Village are named after Caribbean places. Arima, Buccaneer, Caroni, and Curacao are some examples. Dominica, Guadeloupe, Mandeville, and Maracus are others. You will also find Maraval, Mayaro, Montserrat, and Tortola. Trinidad and Tyrico streets complete the original set. More recently, streets like St Vincent, St Lucia, Grenada Drive, and Aruba were added. Havana Rise, Montego, Sandino, Portmore, Belize, Stony Hill, and Trelawny also joined the list. The only exception is Mark Avenue. It extends from Paparangi.
So, as you wander through Grenada Village, remember its unique story. It links back to a famous explorer and early settlers. The Caribbean street names remind us of this history. This blend of local heritage and West Indian influence makes Grenada Village special.