Murray Avenue (Hāwera)

Murray Avenue in Hāwera snakes its way from Maire Street through to Rimu Street. It appears to have been developed in stages from the mid-1960s through to the mid-1970s, beginning with a small subdivision leading off Maire Street.

A recently published book about the origins of Hāwera street names incorrectly identifies Murray Avenue as being named after Bruce Edward Murray. He was mayor of Hāwera from 1977 to 1983, but Murray Avenue was already formed and named before he made his mark.

The street was actually named after a prominent local surveyor, John Stewart Murray, to acknowledge his contribution to the South Taranaki community.

Murray was born and educated in Nelson, before moving to Hāwera to take up a surveying cadetship with Henry Climie. He completed his final surveying examination in 1909 and three years later set up his own practice on the corner of High Street and Princes Street.

Alongside all the usual surveying tasks, newspaper reports suggest his role was more varied than might be the case today. Murray’s skills proved especially valuable in 1927 at a sports meeting held by the Hawera Amateur Athletic Club. The great Taranaki javelin thrower Stan Lay was competing and his throw of 205 feet 11 ½ inches (nearly 63 metres) set a new Australasian record. Official recognition was deemed to be mere formality as “the services of a surveyor (Mr J.S. Murray) were secured and accurate measurement made”.

In May 1932 Murray was a witness in court giving evidence in a case involving a man charged with negligently driving a car along South Road causing the death of Norman McLeod.  Murray had accompanied police to the scene, in his capacity as a surveyor, to measure the length of skid marks left by the vehicle on the bitumen.

Murray was still working as the district surveyor when he died suddenly on 19 January 1946, leaving behind his wife Minnie and four children.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.

Related items:

Taranaki DP2426 Sheet 1 (1905), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP9157 Sheet 1 (1963), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP9434 Sheet 1 (1965), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)