Cuba Street, Wellington
Encyclopedia
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Location and origin
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
, but still in the inner city. Cuba Street was once the route of the Wellington trams. Following the removal of the rails, the middle section of the street was closed to traffic in 1969, and is one of the busiest areas of pedestrian activity in Wellington. Since 1995, Cuba Street has been a registered Historic Area under the Historic Places Act 1993
Historic Places Act 1993
The Historic Places Act 1993 was an Act of the Parliament of New Zealand. It defines the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and its roles of preserving, marking and recording places of historic interest in New Zealand....
, with numerous buildings being of historic significance, the Bank of New Zealand building
Bank of New Zealand building, Wellington
The Bank of New Zealand building is an historic building on the corner of Manners and Cuba Street, Wellington, New Zealand.The building, designed by William Turner , is one of Wellington's earliest reinforced concrete and steel structures. It features corinthian columns and ornate projecting cornice...
being one of those.
Literary History
Mary Taylor (1817-1893), lifelong friend and correspondent of author Charlotte BronteCharlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood, whose novels are English literature standards...
owned and ran a small Cuba Street general store, circa 1840-1860. The shop no longer exists but a heritage storyboard at the intersection of Cuba and Dixon streets commemorates her.
Local people and activities
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
areas of Wellington, and is the home to an eclectic collection of cafes, op-shops, boutique, small fashion stores, art galleries, and music shops. It is the centre of one of the four 'quarters' of downtown Wellington, the Cuba Quarter (the others being centred on Lambton Quay, Courtenay Place
Courtenay Place, Wellington
Courtenay Place is the main street of the Courtenay Quarter in the Wellington, New Zealand inner-city district of Te Aro.Courtenay Place is known for its entertainment and nightlife. Many restaurants are open late and most of the bars stay open until dawn...
and Willis Street
Willis Street
Willis Street is located at the heart of the central business district of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand.Willis Street is one of the four 'quarters' of downtown Wellington, .The two tallest buildings in Wellington, the BNZ Tower and the Majestic Centre, are both located on Willis Street....
). The northern end is more commercial, with an abundance of retail stores, cafes and restaurants. While the southern end (known as the 'top' of Cuba Street, or upper Cuba) is more sparsely occupied but has seen a revival in recent years. In the mid 70's to early 80's, "Mid Cuba" or Vivian Street (which runs horizontal to Cuba) was Wellington's notorious Red light district, where prostitutes would loiter, strip clubs, peep shows and gay bars sat side by side. In recent years, remnants of the red light district are still visible, but sparse.
Cuba Street was also popular with many members of Wellington's homeless community, including the Wellington icon Blanket Man
Ben Hana
Ben Hana or "Blanket Man" is a homeless man who wanders the inner city streets of Wellington, New Zealand. Ben is a local fixture and something of a celebrity and is typically on the footpath in the precincts of Courtenay Place which has 24-hour activity.Ben is a self-proclaimed devotee of the...
. An alcohol ban introduced to the area reduced popularity amonngst the homeless who now congregate in other areas of the reigon . Also due its proximity to many tertiary institutions including Victoria University, Wellington Institute of Technology and Natcoll it is heavily populated by students.
The street is regarded by most New Zealanders as a nexus of creativity and artistic production, featuring buskers, exhibition spaces, protests, stone carving, and other forms of expression. In 2005, the new Wellington Arts Centre
Wellington Arts Centre
The Wellington Arts Centre , is the New Zealand capital's primary creative production facility and support complex. It was between 2003-2005, and was formally opened by Mayor Kerry Prendergast in July 2005. For twelve years previous, the city's arts centre had been based at the much smaller...
was established in Abel Smith Street, a half block from upper Cuba Street. Within a few blocks are Enjoy Gallery, {Suite} Gallery, Peter McLeavey Gallery, the Moko (Tattoo) Museum, Thistle Hall, Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
Faculty of Architecture and Design, and Access Radio.
Music and venues
The Cuba Street CarnivalCuba Street Carnival
The Cuba Street Carnival is a major street parade and creative celebration in Cuba Street, Wellington, New Zealand.Founded by Chris Morley-Hall in 1998, the festival involves hundreds of artists, performers, and a weekend audience of over 125,000...
is a biennial street party celebrating Cuba Street.
Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy’s Drop is a seven-piece band from Wellington, New Zealand, whose musical style has been characterised as any combination of dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and techno. Originally a jam band formed in the late 1990s by musicians from other bands in Wellington, Fat Freddy’s Drop...
's first album, Live at the Matterhorn
Live at the Matterhorn
Live at the Matterhorn is the first album by reggae band Fat Freddy's Drop.The album was recorded live at the Matterhorn restaurant in Cuba Mall, Wellington, New Zealand. The cover of the album features a photo of The Bucket Fountain, which is located near the Matterhorn...
was recorded at the underground-style bar. Other venues in the area include San Francisco Bathhouse, Bar Bodega, Mighty Mighty, Southern Cross, S&M Bar, Midnight Espresso, Olive, K Bar, Hope Brothers, Havana Bar, Good Luck, The Duke, Logan Brown and the Blue Note. The lower end of Cuba Street ends at Wellington Town Hall, Civic Square
Civic Square, Wellington
Civic Square is an open public area at the centre of Wellington, New Zealand. It marks the boundary between the financial district to the north and the entertainment district to the south.- Textures and materials :...
, Michael Fowler Centre
Michael Fowler Centre
The Michael Fowler Centre is a concert hall and convention centre in Wellington, New Zealand. It was constructed on reclaimed land next to Civic Square, and is the pre-eminent concert site in central Wellington....
, and Wakefield Street.