South Lambton Quay Historic Area
pillans
John Compton aged 30 arrived Wellington on the Royal Stewart Jan 29th 1855 from England. 1856 he is listed as Lambton Quay, Carpener, Qualified to serve as a Juror. In 1866 listed as a builder Lambton Quay. He bacame a timber merchant and sawmill owner. 1868 an advertisement in the Evening Post advertising for freight and passage for the schooner Colleen Dawn lying at Comptons Wharf. So the wharf will have been there in 1868
1872-73 Wises Directory - John Compton ,timber merchant, Customhouse Quay. The original yard was situated at customhouse quay and later moved to 3 Dixon Street.
Reported that the site to be later the Commercial Travellers club
1976 - 22nd June. John Compton bought by auction the topsail schooner Julius Vogel to bring Kauri Logs from the Kaipara.
Can anybody pinpoint the exact location of the timberyard and wharf on a map please. I am doing family research for my wife Margaret who is a direct descendant of John Compton
by pillans
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My name is Robert Scott, Retired accountant aged 73
Comments
ngairedith on 2012-05-24 07:20:08hi pillans,
I don't have the EXACT spot but a little further info to help you look
In 1885
... "that the Star Boating Club be permitted to erect a boatshed outside the present proposed reclamation at a spot to be approved by the City Surveyor between Hunter-street and Compton's Wharf"
- so Compton's Wharf was not far from Hunter street, which, when you look at the map is a couple of hundred metres from Willeston street (below)
In 1928
... (scroll to near the end) "hid themselves in the timber yard of Compton's Wharf (near where Willeston street now is)"
- on the map this is the ocean end of Lambton Quay and runs into Frank Kitts Park
In 1935
... (scroll to end where the same again as above ???) but also says "had to seek temporary refuge in the timber stacks on Compton's Wharf, which jutted out into the harbour at the end of what is now Mercer street
- I believe this is an excellent description and although Mercer street appears to turn into Wakefield street there is also a unnamed side treet that runs all the way to the ocean (past Capital E)
happy hunting
pillans on 2012-05-24 19:48:24Thank you VERY much
I am surprised that the timber yard was still there in 1928 and 1931 because of development in the area. Can I ask where these articles came from ??
Thanks Bob Scott. I live in Tauranga so cannot personally access records in Wellington