The Hayward’s Post Office opened on 14 December 1903 and closed on 28 February 1923.

Although the district was known as Haywards, the post office had an apostrophe in the name.

The railway station at Haywards on the Wellington – Hutt Valley line came into service in 1876. Although the population in the area was sparse it was of importance through being the only designated crossing station between Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt. The need for postal facilities was satisfied with the opening of a post office in the station building in 1903. was demolished and replaced by a “shelter shed”[i], as the photograph taken in 1953 shows.

The rural character of the area is depicted in the background.

The names and dates of the Postmasters (who were also the Stationmasters) were

Postmaster	Start	Postmaster	Start
S D Gordon	14 Dec 1903	E L Applegarth	3 Jun 1913
D Sullivan	11 Aug 1905	W Arrowsmith	2 Dec 1913
C W Brooks	1 May 1909	A N Shearer	19 Apr 1915
J Cassidy	24 Sep 1909	W R Stack	29 Oct 1917
T W Lightfoot	4 Jun 1910	J A W Gow	7 Nov 1917
R H Ward	7 Oct 1911	C Neave	1 Apr 1921

_{Archive NZ – Post Office Record Cards listing the names and dates of Postmasters – https://collections.archives.govt.nz/en/web/arena/search#/?q= R26273391}

Post Office business was minimal, and the salary of the Postmaster was paid by the Railways. The office transferred from railway control on 30 September 1922 with the appointment of Charles Neave who was paid £5 ($10) per annum. It was likely that the post office transferred to a nearby resident’s home.

Only one postmark is recorded as being used at Hayward’s and examples are scarce. Recorded from 4 Oct 1904 until 23 Jun 1913.

Are there more envelopes and postcards that were mailed from Hayward’s waiting to be discovered to record further dates of usage?

An article in the New Zealand Mail date 4 May 1904_^* describes the train journey from Petone to Upper Hutt and Haywards station as being “situated at the outlet of Judgford Valley, the scenery hereabouts being somewhat similar to that surrounding Belmont”.Source – https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZMAIL19040504.2.130?

It describes Belmont as “bush clad terraces, verdant gluches and green nooks has become an attractive spot for picnics and junketings”

The article also lists the “Business Men of the Lower and Upper Hutt”.

A “thank you” to Andrew McNiven for sending this article to The Upper Hutt Connection.

28/10/25