Wadestown is a northern suburb of Wellington, (the capital city of New Zealand) located about by road from the Wellington central business district and the New Zealand Parliament Buildings.

It is a residential suburb overlooking Thorndon and the Ngaio Gorge from the northern flanks of Te Ahumairangi Hill (formerly Tinakori Hill). The suburb is hilly and includes Weld Street reportedly one of the steepest streets in Wellington. Wadestown's streets are picturesque and narrow — , half a chain, made by pick and shovel and horse and scoop.The Evening Post page 8, 11 March 1912

Establishment Wadestown was Wellington's first suburb. It takes its name from John Wade who arrived in Wellington in 1840 on the vessel Integrity. In 1841, together with another early settler, James Watt, he acquired land in the area now known as Wadestown and divided it into one and two-acre lots. South and east boundaries Wade Street and Watt Street carry their names.

Demographics Wadestown statistical area covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Wadestown had a population of 3,696 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 57 people (−1.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 180 people (5.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,773 males, 1,872 females, and 48 people of other genders in 1,383 dwellings. 9.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 522 people (14.1%) aged under 15 years, 963 (26.1%) aged 15 to 29, 1,749 (47.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 462 (12.5%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.8% European (Pākehā); 7.4% Māori; 1.4% Pasifika; 9.3% Asian; 1.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.5%, Māori by 2.4%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 17.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 26.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 23.9% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 0.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.4% Jewish, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 66.7%, and 4.6% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,046 (64.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 939 (29.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 195 (6.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $71,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,131 people (35.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,983 (62.5%) full-time, 468 (14.7%) part-time, and 63 (2.0%) unemployed.

Geographic boundaries From a boundary between Wadestown and Thorndon at the northern end of Grant Road, the Wadestown boundary follows a line along Frandi Street and Sar Street, above the Hutt Road to a point below the easternmost extent of Barnard Street. From there, the boundary turns northwest and continues into the Ngaio Gorge to an intersection with Kaiwharawhara Road. It then follows the course of the Kaiwharawhara stream up the Ngaio Gorge to the intersection of Churchill Drive and Blackbridge Road. The boundary then turns south and follows a line along Wilton Road to the intersection with Norwich Street. From there, it takes a line to the top of Te Ahumairangi Hill above Salisbury Garden Court. The southern boundary descends along the top section of Weld Street and then runs east above Wade Street, descending southwest of Orchard Street into Thorndon.

Electorate boundaries Prior to 2014, Wadestown was in the Wellington Central electorate.

In 2014, the Electoral Commission announced various changes to electorate boundaries. One of these changes was to extend the boundaries of the existing Ōhariu electorate to now include Wadestown.

Education

School enrolment zones The suburb of Wadestown is within the enrolment zones of Wellington High School, Wellington College, Wellington Girls' College, Onslow College and Wadestown School. The eastern parts of the suburb, including Highland Park, are within the enrolment zone of Thorndon School.

Primary school

Wadestown School is a co-educational state school for Year 1 to 8 children. It has a roll of as of . The school is located on two sites about 1 km apart.

The Weld Street campus (previously known as the Side School) is designed for new entrants, and consists of parallel junior classes (Years 1–2). The school grounds include a playing field, a playground, gardens and a small pool. The Deputy Principal has an office at both Rose Street and Weld Street, sharing time between the two locations.

The Rose Street campus (previously known as the Main School) is located on multiple levels of a hilly site between Rose Street and Purakau Avenue, above Wadestown Road. It provides for children from Years 2–8. Access to the Rose Street campus is by footpath from Mairangi Road at the top of Rose Street. The school has only limited vehicular access. Pedestrian access is available via Purakau Avenue. At the Rose Street campus there are four blocks of classrooms at different levels. Although the Rose Street site is hilly, the grounds include a large flat playground, a playing field, landscaped gardens and tennis courts.

The majority of Wadestown pupils come from the local suburb but a number also come from Wilton, Chartwell, Thorndon, Khandallah and Crofton Downs. The school has an enrolment zone scheme in place.

The Education Act 1877 established a secular, compulsory and free national system of primary education, and 12 Education Boards to oversee state schools. Wadestown School was first opened on the Weld Street site on 1 June 1881, and was one of the earliest state schools to be established in Wellington. It was initially built as a single classroom schoolhouse, but by 1896 it had been extended twice. The original Side School building was demolished after the Second World War and rebuilt in the current design. The replacement building was officially opened on 15 June 1946. The Rose Street campus began as two classrooms on the present Rose Street site, and was opened in February 1917. There have been multiple renovations and building developments on the site since the first opening.

A detailed history of the school was published in 2006 in preparation for the 125th Anniversary in November 2006.Monigatti, D (2006)

Pre-school education Pre-school education in Wadestown is provided by Wadestown Kindergarten, a part of Wellington's Free Kindergarten Association. The Wadestown Playgroup provides play activities for children under 5 at the Wadestown Playground and Plunket rooms.

Community facilities

Library

Wellington City Libraries operates a branch library at the corner of Lennel and Moorhouse Roads. The site is at the bottom of a landfilled tip that is now a green space known as Philip Myers Park.

Tennis club The Wadestown Tennis Club which operates at Wadestown School was founded in 1924.

Community Centre The Wadestown Community Centre was located in Pitt Street. The Centre accommodated a number of community groups including the Wadestown Toy Library. A community creche with 30 years of service to the Wadestown community operated in the building until it was closed in June 2019. The Centre itself was closed by the Wellington City Council in 2024.

Transportation

Wadestown is served by the No 14 Wilton bus route.

Wellington had a tramway system between 1878 and 1964. Wadestown was part of the network from 1911. The narrow and steep cutting that forms part of Lennel Road between Barnard Street and Sefton street was specifically created for the tramway. In c. 1918 a tram shelter was built on the corner of Sefton Street and Hosking Lane/Lennel Road. It continues to be used as a bus shelter and is preserved for its architectural and historic value. The Wadestown tram line was closed in 1949 and replaced by a bus service.

Rail

The Johnsonville line runs along the lower slopes of Wadestown, above the Ngaio Gorge. It was originally built by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company in the mid-1880s, as part of the proposed line from Wellington to Palmerston North. This line was the route of the North Island Main Trunk railway out of Wellington until 1938, when it became the Johnsonville branch line after completion of the Tawa Flat Deviation. There are no train stations in Wadestown itself, although there is a Wadestown crossing loop on the line. The nearest station is Crofton Downs. The steep hillsides in Wadestown occasionally cause difficulties for the commuter train service deep in the valley.

Churches Between 1910 and 2007, Wadestown had three main churches. St Lukes Wadestown (Anglican) and Wadestown Presbyterian were located on Wadestown Road, and both traced their history back to original establishment in Wadestown in 1881. A Catholic church, St Brigid's was built in 1910 and operated until mid-2007. It was then deconsecrated and converted to residential accommodation.

In August 2012, the Wadestown Presbyterian Church building and church hall were identified as earthquake prone, and were closed pending earthquake strengthening. Services were transferred to alternative locations. The hall was strengthened in 2013, and the main church building in 2016. In 2023, the church closed permanently, and the last service was held on 26 March 2023. The site was sold to a property developer in January 2025.

Northern Walkway The route of Wellington's Northern Walkway passes through Wadestown, from the Kaiwharawhara stream in Trelissick Park up Hanover Street and Weld Street, and onto Te Ahumairangi Hill. This part of the Northern Walkway is also part of the national walkway, Te Araroa.

Historic places

Highland Park Highland Park run belonged to W B Rhodes, "the richest man in New Zealand". It was the site of The Grange, his run's homestead overlooking the harbour. Highland Park had been bought by Rhodes before 1849 and was part of the original James Watt and John Wade holding.Highland Park Estate. New Zealand Times August 1905, Page 7 Controlled subdivision in the 20th century after his widow died in 1914 resulted in much more generous houses of much better quality.

Rhodes family members are commemorated in Highland Park's street names: Barnard Street (W Barnard Rhodes known as Barnard), Anne Street (first recorded as Ann, unknown, perhaps for his daughter Mary Ann), Sar Street (Sarah Ann Rhodes née Moorhouse (second wife)), Sefton Street and Moorhouse Street for her brother

Older than any of them Watt Street is named for original owner James Watt and a match for Wade Street running at right angles from its southern end, the surveyors unaware of the lie of the land.Statement by the Rhodes Estate trustees The Evening Post 6 October 1904 Page 6 The Lennel Road cutting with Watt Street bridge was made for the tramway at the beginning of the 20th century and after much illicit use by animals, pedestrians and some vehicles expanded to roadway when the tram service finished in 1949.Better Access Wanted, The Evening Post 25 August 1932 Page 10

The plan to subdivide beyond the grounds of Mrs Rhodes' house was announced in 1901Highland Park The Evening Post 19 October 1901, Page 5 but an act of parliament to permit the sale and disputes with the Onslow Borough Council delayed even the first sales until 1912.Highland Park Estate. The Evening Post 16 February 1912 Page 12Highland Park The Dominion 22 February 1912, Page 7

Fort Buckley