Cuba Street

Cuba Street runs south from the CBD of Wellington. At the south end is the Michael Fowler Centre close to the harbour, and the other end is close to Aro Valley and at the base of the Mt Cook and Brooklyn hills. The street was named by Captain William Mein Smith, the first Surveyor General, after an early New Zealand Company settler ship, the Cuba, which arrived in Wellington Harbour on 3 January 1840. Cuba Street runs across land that was once near Te Aro Pā and the gardens of Māori iwi who lived there. One of the first colonial families that purchased land around upper Cuba Street was the Tonks in the 1840s. They established brickyards, and streets in the area were named after them including Tonks Ave, Arthur Street, and Frederick Street. The historic area of upper Cuba Street near Tonks Ave and Arthur Street was majorly re-formed due to a controversial inner city bypass road that was completed in 2007. For 60 years (1904–1964) an electric tram line went up Cuba Street as part of the Wellington tramway system. After the tramlines were removed and following public pressure the middle section of the street closed to traffic in 1969 to become a pedestrian mall. Cuba Street is the centre of one of the four 'quarters' of downtown Wellington, the Cuba Quarter, the other quarters are centred on Lambton Quay, Courtenay Place and Willis Street. Literary history Mary Taylor (1817–1893), lifelong friend and correspondent of author Charlotte Brontë, owned and ran a small Cuba Street general store, from to 1860. The shop no longer exists but a heritage storyboard at the intersection of Cuba and Dixon streets commemorates her. ==Local people and activities==

Cuba Street is described as the bohemian creative area of Wellington, and is the home to many cafes, op-shops, boutique fashion stores, art galleries, and music shops. On Cuba Street is the Enjoy Gallery, {Suite} Gallery, McLeavey Gallery, and Thistle Hall. In 2005, the new Wellington Arts Centre was established in Abel Smith Street, a half block from upper Cuba Street. Also nearby are Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design, Access Radio, Radio Active, and Glover Park. Glover Park was a regular hangout of rough sleepers and a council Public Places Bylaw that was reviewed in 2004 meant they were getting evicted which essentially moved them into Cuba Mall. In 2018 some retailers moved into the adjacent Ghuznee Street. The northern end is more commercial, with established chain stores such as Whitcoulls and Glassons. The southern end (known as the 'top' of Cuba Street, or upper Cuba) is more eclectic or boutique. In the mid-1970s to early 1980s, Vivian Street which crosses Cuba St was Wellington's red light district, with street prostitutes, strip clubs, peep shows and gay bars. New Zealand's first iconic drag queen and activist Carmen Rupe ran ''Carmen's International Coffee Lounge'' on Vivian Street in the 60s and 70s. Pedestrian light signals in her likeness were put up at four intersections along Cuba Street in 2016 to coincide with the 30-year anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill coming into effect. ==Music and venues==

CubaDupa is an annual street party celebrating Cuba Street. Fat Freddy's Drop's first album, Live at the Matterhorn was recorded at the Matterhorn bar on Cuba Street. Other venues in the area include Hotel Bristol, San Francisco Bathhouse, J.J. Murphy's, Southern Cross, S&M Bar, Midnight Espresso, Olive, K Bar, Hope Brothers, Havana Bar, Good Luck, The Duke, and Logan Brown. The lower end of Cuba Street ends at Wellington Town Hall, Civic Square, Michael Fowler Centre, and Wakefield Street. ==Gallery==

File:The Old Shebang, Cuba Street, Wellington, ca 1883.jpg|Bachelor cottage "The Old Shebang" near Tonks Ave on Cuba Street ca. 1883 File:Wellington City - Streets Publicity Caption Wellington City Views. Cuba Street Shopping Mall Photographer G Hutchinson.jpg|Wellington City – Streets Publicity Caption Wellington City Views. Cuba Street Shopping Mall Photographer G Hutchinson File:Building being renovated - Cuba St.jpg|Earthquake strengthening taking place – Cuba St File:Cuba Street in Summer.jpg|Cuba St.looking north from Ghuznee Street in summer File:Long shot of Carmen Rupe pedestrian crossing light.jpg|Carmen Rupe pedestrian crossing light at the Vivian and Cuba Street intersection File:Peaches San Fran 2016.jpg|alt=Peaches is central in a pink outfit with dancers either side in giant vulva costumes. The heads of the crowd can be seen in the foreground.|Performance at venue San Francisco Bathhouse by Canadian artist Peaches ==References==