Baker

Ever wonder how a hill gets its name? High above Wellington, Baker Hill stands as a testament to one family’s legacy. The Baker family, arriving in Wellington in 1841 aboard the Lady Nugent, embarked on a journey that intertwined with the very landscape. Little George Baker, just a year old at the time, would grow up alongside this burgeoning city. His father, also named George, was a carpenter, his skills initially employed assembling prefabricated immigrant cottages. He later gained notoriety for his property in Karori, the very land that would become the namesake of the Baker’s Hill Mining Company during Wellington’s gold rush. Young George followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a carpenter himself. Their shared trade even took them to Ballarat, Australia, before returning to Karori. George Jr. honed his skills as a journeyman carpenter, eventually establishing his own business. He married Emma Stockbridge in 1864, and together they raised twelve children. Baker became a prominent figure in Mt Victoria, building numerous houses between 1893 and 1897. He even built the house at 70 Brougham Street, where his family resided. A true developer of his time. One of his sons, William George Baker, born in 1864, took a different path. He became a renowned itinerant painter, traveling throughout New Zealand capturing stunning landscapes. With his wife by his side and their horse-drawn caravan as their home, William painted scenes from the South Island’s majestic mountains and lakes to the North Island’s Maori pa and villages. His work, though self-taught, found its way into prestigious galleries across New Zealand and even Australia. Baker Hill, then, isn’t just a geographical feature. It’s a symbol of a family’s contribution to Wellington, from its earliest days of settlement to its artistic heritage. A reminder that sometimes, even hills carry a family name.