Step back in time to a little village tucked away in the foothills of Wellington called Glenside. Glenside was a quiet spot, where the hustle and bustle of city life faded away. The villagers went about their lives, a little slower than their Wellington neighbours. Their village, once known as “The Halfway”, was halfway between the city of Wellington and the town of Porirua. It’s a little less known fact that the name “Halfway” was not actually due to its location between the two cities but because it was where those travelling from Wellington to Porirua would stop for a rest.
The village was like a green oasis. It was a rural haven surrounded by hills and streams. The sound of water rippling over the stones was a constant, soothing sound. The village was also full of history, with old houses dating back to the 1840s and a heritage garden that helped to maintain that history.
The locals were proud of the village’s history and heritage and it was their pride that kept the local history alive. As they went about their days, tending their gardens, chatting to their neighbours, and enjoying the peace, they would remember stories of how the village was the halfway house between Wellington and Porirua. They also remembered the old rock crusher, left behind from the days when the village was a hub for workers building the railway a century ago. The rock crusher stands proudly as a reminder of a bygone era.
It’s not a very well-known secret but in the 1920s, when the local Post & Telegraph Office opened, the villagers realised that “The Halfway” was confusing. The villagers decided to change the name and after a competition, named their village Glenside. The name, after all, reflects the village’s location.
Today, Glenside remains a tranquil village but it’s not as isolated as it once was. The noise of traffic on the motorway nearby is a stark contrast to the gentle murmur of the streams and the buzz of the village shops is a sign of times but the little village with the big history remains. It is an enduring reminder of the past and a place where visitors can escape the everyday and discover a history that has endured.