“Starvation Valley.” That’s what they called Stokes Valley once. Can you believe it?
Stokes Valley is a major suburb of Lower Hutt. It sits nestled in its own valley. The valley is physically separated from the rest of Lower Hutt. Densely forested hills surround it on all sides.
Let’s journey back to the 1840s. Robert Stokes a surveyor arrived. He helped plan Wellington. The valley earned its name from him.
Before European settlement Mu0101ori tribes bordered this land. The Te u0100ti Awa, Ngu0101ti Toa, and Ngu0101ti Kahungunu all had claims here. Perhaps that’s why there’s little evidence of Mu0101ori habitation.
The New Zealand Company bought the land in 1839. Chief Te Puni gestured. He showed the areas he was willing to sell. Stokes Valley was part of that deal.
Surveyors arrived on the Cuba in 1840. They included Robert Stokes. Stokes surveyed east of the Hutt Valley. This likely referred to Stokes Valley. By 1843 a plan named the area Stokes Valley.
Early settlers faced hardship. The land proved difficult to farm. After clearing the bush the soil was poor. Hence the name “Starvation Valley.” Floods droughts and snowstorms added to their woes.
William Judd Sr. is known as the first resident. He arrived in 1840. He built a home near today’s main road. His house was damaged in the 1855 earthquake.
George Spackman also settled here early. He arrived in 1840 too. Hart Udy set up a sawmill. Udy Street in Petone bears his name.
Timber was the first industry. Settlers felled trees. They split posts and rails. Birch rimu ru0101tu0101 and tu014dtara were plentiful. Wildlife thrived in the bush. Weka quail and wild pigs roamed.
In 1858 Stokes Valley became a district. It fell under the District Highways Act. Later it became part of the Western Hutt District.
Remember the 1855 earthquake? It shook the valley. One account tells of settlers praying. They sought deliverance from the shaking earth.
The 1976 floods caused slips and widespread damage. Pinehaven and Stokes Valley became disaster zones. A petrol station flooded. Houses slipped down hills.
Stokes Valley has had other names too. Some call it Koraunui. It means “big ferns” in Mu0101ori. Since the 1990s locals have nicknamed it Snake Gully. And more recently Stokes Vegas a playful jab at its nightlife.
Today Stokes Valley is a thriving community. It has schools parks and a strong cultural identity. Famous residents have called it home. Motorbike racers Neville and Dave Hiscock lived here. Netball star Irene van Dyk loved the area. Artist Guy Ngan’s sculptures stand as landmarks.
From “Starvation Valley” to a vibrant suburb Stokes Valley has come a long way. Its story is one of resilience hard work and community spirit. It’s a valley with a past and a future.