Eastbourne is a suburb of Lower Hutt city in the southern North Island of New Zealand. Its population is about 4600.

Location

An outer suburb, it is situated on the eastern shore of Port Nicholson harbour, five kilometres south of the main part of Lower Hutt's urban area, and directly across the harbour from the Miramar Peninsula in Wellington city. It is reached from Lower Hutt by a narrow exposed coastal road via the industrial suburb of Seaview. It comprises some 2000 residential homes spread over the seven small bays of Point Howard, Lowry Bay, York Bay, Mahina Bay, Days Bay, Rona Bay and Robinson Bay, although only the last two are commonly considered part of eastbourne itself.

Close to the sea and catching afternoon sun, the area has a reputation for isolation, wealth and exclusivity. It also has sheltered sandy swimming beaches that are a major attraction. Eastbourne is also a popular windsurfing and kitesurfing location during Wellington’s frequent windy weather.

There is a regular trans-harbour ferry service between Wellington and Eastbourne which docks at the Days Bay wharf in Eastbourne and at Queen's Wharf close to down-town Wellington. The ferry supplements (and is normally faster than) bus links around the harbour. A one-way ferry journey takes about 25 minutes, while a bus or car from Wellington can take 40 minutes, and closer to 60 minutes during rush hour.

Prior to its amalgamation into Lower Hutt, the Borough of Eastbourne was a separate town, with its own council and civic administration. The Eastbourne Community Board is a remnant of the town council and remains vocal on local issues.

Eastbourne has two volunteer fire brigades. One located in Point Howard the other near Muritai School in Eastbourne.

History

Days Bay

Days bay was originally called Hawtrey Bay. It was settled by George and Anne Day and their family, who had emigrated in 1841 from Kent aboard the Arab. William Tod appears to have employed George Day to look after his interests in the area while he went south. They had permission to cut and sell firewood and timber. The Days built their house in the bay and operated a schooner that ferried early settlers between the Hutt Valley and Wellington. After their house was severely damaged by an earthquake, the Day family left the bay in November 1849, aboard the schooner Flirt, which was captained by their eldest son George Fredrick Day, and sailed to Lyttelton in Canterbury where the settlement of Christchurch took place. By December 1849 the family had settled in Sumner and George Day had become a road construction overseer, while the rest of the family appears to have continued their firewood, timber and shipping activities.

Days Bay has particular associations with the young Katherine Mansfield.

References

• Beaglehole, A., & Carew, A. (2001). Eastbourne: a history of the eastern bays of Wellington Harbour Eastbourne, NZ: Historical Society of Eastbourne. ISBN 0-473-07966-6

• Paterson, Ann (1983). Stories of York Bay: a community effort. ISBN 0-473-00106-3

• Amodeo, Colin (ed.) (1998) Rescue: The Sumner community and its lifeboat service. Sumner, Christchurch: Sumner Lifeboat Institution Incorporated.

External links

• Eastbourne Online
• Maps of Eastbourne
• Eastbourne Herald website
• Muritai Primary School
• Wellesley College (Primary School)