Search for heritage information and property records
Established in 1994, Wellington City Archives holds physical and digitised records dating back to 1840.
Our collections are a rich resource for anyone researching Wellington’s social history, and show changes in the community and urban development over the past 150 years. They also include building permits, consents and other property information.
Visit Archives online
Search and request property information
Request all building permits and consents
You can request all building permits and consents for your house or another residential property in Wellington using the Building Consent Search Service.
Search for individual property records
For specific residential or commercial building permits or consents, visit Archives Online Property Search and request copies.
Our services
Do your own historical research
Hopefully, Archives online will meet all your research needs. Where it does not, you are welcome to visit us and search the archives in person. It is free for visitors to carry out historical research, but fees apply for some services. Please contact us to make an appointment.
Hire a staff member to carry out research
You can also hire a staff member to undertake your research. The fee is $30 per half hour (payable in advance). Please contact us to find out how we can help.
Copying and photographic reproductions
Staff will advise of the charges for digital copies of documents or any photocopying needed upon request.
Records that are digitised can be viewed in Archives online. If you require other records to be digitised, or you have specific digitisation requirements for an item identified online, please request this and we will price this on application.
Visiting the Archives
Visiting is by appointment only – this ensures we are as prepared for your visit as we can be.
Opening hours
Monday–Friday: 9am–4pm
Public holidays: Closed
Sign up to our newsletter
Our quarterly Archives newsletter allows us to share some of the coolest archives we've found, articles about the history of Wellington, and a little bit of behind the scenes from our archivists.