Gear Island

Tucked away in the Hutt Valley lies Gear Island. It’s not an island anymore, but its name echoes a time when it truly was. Gear Island owes its name to James Gear, a butcher who arrived in New Zealand around 1861. He eventually established a meat processing empire in Petone. His original 30-acre plot expanded in the early years to include a 100-acre leasehold near the mouth of the Hutt River. This became a grazing area and stockyard for his burgeoning business. Locals started calling it Gear Island. The company later bought the land, solidifying the name. Gear Island played a vital role in the growth of the Gear Meat Company. In 1890, a manure works was built on the southern end. It processed the byproducts from the meat works, turning them into fertilizer. However, the location presented challenges. Flooding, transport difficulties, and the potent smell wafting into nearby residential areas led to the relocation of the manure works back to the main plant on the Esplanade by 1905. The company subsequently sold off portions of Gear Island between 1908 and 1917. Today, Gear Island is no longer surrounded by water. But its name remains a testament to its crucial role in the history of James Gear and his meat processing empire. The island transformed from a pastoral stockyard to a vital industrial hub, playing a crucial role in the company’s early success. Although it’s now integrated into the mainland, the name “Gear Island” whispers tales of a bygone era in Petone’s industrial heritage.