What if the Duke of Sutherland knew his name would echo here in New Zealand? Welcome to Trentham. It is Upper Hutt’s most populous suburb. Trentham lies in a widening of the Hutt Valley. It is five kilometres southwest of Upper Hutt city centre.
Trentham’s story starts in the 1840s. Richard Barton, the first European settler, named it. He honoured his former employer. The Duke of Sutherland’s subsidiary title was Viscount Trentham. It was of Trentham in the County of Stafford.
The Barton family’s memory lives on. Barton Road and Barton Avenue remind us. Barton’s Bush is a native tree area. It is within Trentham Memorial Park. Richard Barton rests in St John’s Church grounds. Brass plaques inside the church also memorialize him.
Trentham Military Camp trained soldiers for World War I and World War II. Established in 1914, it was initially a tented camp. Wooden huts appeared in March 1915. Today, the camp is still a New Zealand Defence Force base. It hosts logistics and support functions. The parade ground near the Trade Training School sees frequent use. Units like TTS and the Youth Development Unit use it. Guards preparing for high-profile events also train here.
From 1920 to 1996, Trentham Camp housed New Zealand’s principal Ordnance Depot. Every Ordnance Officer and Soldier interacted with it. In 1920, the NZAOC headquarters was at Alexandra Barracks. Ordnance Stores were in several locations, including Trentham. As part of post-war reductions, the main depot moved to Trentham. They utilized existing camp structures for warehousing.
Building 73, a reinforced concrete warehouse, appeared in the early 1940s. It allowed loading from trains and trucks. This design became a model for warehouses elsewhere. Wartime demands led to Building 74, a wooden duplicate. By 1944, storage needs exceeded capacity. Sub-depots were established in other locations. Buildings from a US base in Lower Hutt were moved to Trentham.
The RNZAOC was amalgamated in 1996. Military warehousing became commercialized in 1998. The NZDF archive is based at Trentham Military Camp. It holds 1.5 million personnel files.
Trentham Racecourse is home to the Wellington Racing Club. It is a place of excitement and history.
Between 1967 and 1990, General Motors-Holden operated an assembly plant in Trentham. It provided employment for many.
Trentham School provides education for Year 1 to 6 students. Brentwood School once existed. It merged with Trentham School in 2004. Fergusson Intermediate caters to Year 7 to 8 students. Upper Hutt College serves Year 9 to 15 students. Hutt International Boys’ School is a state-integrated Christian school.
Trentham’s population was 11,960 as of June 2024. The suburb covers 11.37 square kilometres.
Trentham continues to evolve. New developments focus on sustainability. The suburb blends military history, education, and community spirit. Trentham stands as a testament to Upper Hutt’s rich heritage.