We love Island Bay, Wellington

Island Bay, c.1905, postcard form the Wellington City Library collection

We're putting together our lovely invitations at the moment with the assistance of pro designer Rose Miller. We can't wait for you to receive your special envelopes (about another week away).  

In pulling the material together we wanted to give you a glimpse of Island Bay, our chosen location for the celebrations. We love the area - we've both spent a lot of time running around the south coast (half marathon training), having fish 'n' chips in the park (rewards for  half marathon training), catching the odd film at Empire Cinema, and visiting our dear friend Huia. 

It is a beautiful suburb of Wellington that has a history from pre-European settlement. 

The island in the bay is the point from which the legendary Maori chief Kupe sighted the giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, which he pursued across Cook Strait. The area was was home to several pa, including Te Mupunga Kainga, today represented with a pou in Shorland Park. In the late 19th century Italian fishermen settled in the area. In 1905 the Wellington tramline was extended to Island Bay boosting the local population. 
 

The view from our reception venue, the Island Bay Surf Club, will look a lot like Rita Angus' famous painting Boats, Island Bay (1968).  

The surrounding area is a Marine Reserve

Taputeranga Marine Reserve is an 840 hectare area extending approximately 2.3 km off Wellington’s south coast. The Island Bay Surf Club is home base for the Marine Education Centre, which hosts open days every Sunday at the orange Bait House on the Siren Rocks.

The Memorial Rotunda is where our ceremony will take place

The Rotunda was erected in 1930 by the residents "to gratefully commemorate the services rendered to their King and country by those who enlisted from the Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Happy Valley districts".

Sunshine on the rotunda, just as we picture it for 15 December

Other tidbits (thanks Wikipedia)

• A Buddhist monastery is located on the western hills of Island Bay, with the golden Stupa visible from much of the suburb.
• Roads, many named after rivers, mainly in Great Britain.

The Wellington City Council have a great website with heritage information about the suburbs around Wellington. Here is the link for Island Bay if you'd like to read more.

Island Bay, ~1900-1920, postcard from the Wellington City Council Library

Only 65 days to go...