009 Selwyn Rd Hastings, Neil, George, William and Tom Chambers, Mayor Yule
Reason for the name
Selwyn Road in Havelock North is named after Major Selwyn Chambers, C Squadron Wellington Mounted Rifles. He was a respected farmer, Chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Farmers Union and a Major in the Territorial Force before the war, served bravely and was killed in action at age 28.
Sometime between 1924 & 1936 Selwyn Street was renamed and became an extension of Chambers Street and Selwyn Street transferred to the current site Selwyn Road, which comes off Margaret Ave, named for Selwyn’s mother.
In the May following Major Selwyn Chambers death, the Havelock North Town Board decided to name one of the roads in the Duart subdivision after Selwyn Chambers.
In a meeting dated 8 June 1917 The Havelock North Town Board accepted the dedication of names for two new roads located within the Duart Estate. The new road names were Nigel Street and Selwyn Street and TM Chambers was consulted about the road naming. Thomas Mason Chambers was Selwyn Chambers’ father and Nigel McLean’s uncle, he had been chairman of the Havelock North Town Board from 1912-1916. Selwyn’s cousin Nigel McLean had fought with him in the Wellington (East Coast) Mounted Rifles and also died of wounds a few months after Selwyn, at Gibraltar.
Authors: This story has been put together with Neil Chambers, grandson of Selwyn Chambers, who lives in the homestead Selwyn built at Kopanga Station and has kept diaries, letters and other memorabilia of Selwyn and the family.
Helen Gelletly, Madelon van Zijll de Jong and Cherie Flintoff from Hastings District Council assisted with this information.
Nikki Dowling HDC
The story of Major Selwyn Chambers is told in the Gallery
