Story: Floods

Early Hutt River flood (1st of 2)

Early Hutt River flood

Because the Hutt River near Wellington was a transport route, it was natural for buildings to be sited alongside. The Aglionby Arms (centre) was one of the first hotels. This engraving, from a drawing made in the early 1840s, shows an idyllic view of the hotel. Unfortunately the early inhabitants did not realise that the Hutt River flooded regularly.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-109-024
Engraving by Samuel Charles Brees

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, 'Floods - 19th-century floods', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/4875/early-hutt-river-flood (accessed 8 December 2023)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 1 Aug 2017