Mt Victoria Stories Opens 12 June

Mt Victoria Stories is a social history exhibition about the residents of Mt Victoria, Wellington.

Opening celebration: Toi Pôneke Gallery, Tuesday 12 June, 5.30pm

Exhibition runs until 7 July.

Mt Victoria Stories is the culmination of a nine-month project by the Mt Victoria Historical Society. The exhibition shares the stories of people who have lived for 20 years or more in this prominent suburb close to the heart of the city; people who have brought up their own families in the homes they themselves grew up in, passionate community workers, musicians, writers and long-time observers of the suburb.

Curator and Mt Victoria Historical Society Convenor Joanna Newman has selected passages from oral history recordings to accompany photographic portraits by Sarah Burton of the individuals in their local surroundings.

“It was very difficult to select which portions of the interviews to print and share with the public in a gallery,” she says. “So many interesting stories had to be left out, but we’ve still managed to convey the humour and character of the people.”

Fifteen residents were involved in the project, including filmmaker Gaylene Preston and writer Marilyn Duckworth. “Everyone gave so generously of their time and I feel very privileged that we have been able to record their stories and to share them in this way,” Joanna says. “They’ve all contributed old photographs from their albums, which will be displayed too, so we can picture them at the different points in their lives that they talk about.”

Each individual’s story is different, but there are common threads that run through them, too - memories of trams, encounters on the Town Belt, little shops peppered round the streets and local fairs; a strong community activism; and, above all, a love of the Mt Victoria sun. Joanna believes the oral histories will be of significant value to future generations as a study of a unique urban community and the changes it has undergone, and the society has plans to build on the collection by recording more.

Joanna Newman will give a talk on Saturday 30 June at Toi Poneke Gallery, Wellington Arts Centre, 61 Abel Smith Street. Visitors are invited to bring their own historical photographs of Mt Victoria to share.

ENDS

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