Last updated October 2026
Alicetown is a central suburb of Lower Hutt in the Wellington region, sitting just north of Petone and west of Hutt Central beside the Hutt River. It grew from early European farming settlement into a residential area popular with workers from nearby factories, and today offers a compact mix of character homes, local shops and strong transport links.
The suburb is home to Te Tatau o Te Pō Marae and two primary schools, with easy access to the Hutt River Trail and the wider valley. Visitors and residents find it a practical base for exploring Lower Hutt while remaining close to Wellington city. Its position between the river and the western hills gives it a settled, neighbourhood feel.
Practical Information
- Ward or local board
- Central Ward, Hutt City Council
- Getting there
- Main access via Hutt Road and Western Hutt Road; Ava railway station (Hutt Valley Line) and Western Hutt railway station (Melling Line); regular buses including routes serving Cuba Street and Alicetown Shops
- Main shopping
- Cuba Street strip and nearby local shops in Alicetown
- Schools
- Hutt Central School (Year 1–6); Te Ara Whanui Kura Kaupapa Māori o ngā Kōhanga Reo o Te Awa Kairangi (Year 1–8 Māori-immersion); nearest intermediate and secondary across the river in Woburn (Hutt Intermediate School and Hutt Valley High School)
- Nearby landmarks
- Hutt River and Ewen Bridge; Te Tatau o Te Pō Marae; Petone; Hutt Central
About Alicetown
Alicetown occupies a flat, central position in the lower Hutt Valley. It lies north of Petone, west of Hutt Central, with the Hutt River forming a clear eastern edge crossed by the Ewen Bridge.
Western Hutt Road and the Melling railway line mark the western side, while Railway Avenue and the Hutt Valley railway corridor help define the northern and southern edges. The setting is residential and practical, with a mix of older villas and later housing close to shops and stations.
The area has deep layers of history. The first European settlement in the Hutt Valley, known as Aglionby, took shape on what is now Tama Street in 1840. The Aglionby Arms, the valley’s first hotel, was built here that same year before being relocated.
Farming dominated early on. From the early 1900s the suburb filled with workers from Petone’s factories, shaping the residential character that remains today. It was named for Alice Maud Fitzherbert, daughter of mayor William Fitzherbert.
Te Tatau o Te Pō Marae stands at 437 Hutt Road. Opened in 1933, it is a marae of Te Āti Awa (including hapū Ngāti Te Whiti, Ngāti Tāwhirikura and Ngāti Tupoki Takarangi) and is also associated with Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika.
The wharenui shares the name Te Tatau o Te Pō (“the door to the night”). It was the first modern marae complex of its kind built locally in the twentieth century and continues to host hui, wānanga and noho. The marae links to ancestral connections including the awa Te Awa Kairangi (Hutt River).
Today Alicetown feels established and convenient. Local shops cluster along Cuba Street, schools serve primary-aged children, and trains and buses make commuting straightforward.
The nearby Hutt River offers walking and cycling on the stopbanks and trail, while Petone’s foreshore and Hutt Central’s facilities sit only a short distance away. The suburb suits people who want a central Lower Hutt base without the busier commercial intensity of the city centre.
History and Heritage
European settlement began with Aglionby in 1840, making this one of the earliest colonial footholds in the valley. The hotel and early farms set the pattern before industrial work at Petone drew more residents in the early twentieth century. The naming after Alice Maud Fitzherbert ties the suburb to local civic history through her father, William Fitzherbert, an early mayor.
Māori presence is continuous through Te Āti Awa and related iwi. Te Tatau o Te Pō Marae, opened in 1933 with support that included the Taranaki Trust Board, re-established a named house connected to earlier pā at Pito-one (Petone). It remains an active cultural centre on Hutt Road. The suburb’s location beside Te Awa Kairangi places it within the wider traditional landscape of the lower valley.
Getting Around
Alicetown is well served by public transport. Ava station on the Hutt Valley Line and Western Hutt station on the Melling Line sit at or near the edges of the suburb, giving direct rail links toward Wellington and up the valley.
Bus stops at Alicetown Shops and along Cuba Street and Hutt Road connect to Petone, Lower Hutt centre, Eastbourne and other destinations.
By car, Hutt Road is the main north–south arterial, with Western Hutt Road providing another route and the Ewen Bridge linking east across the river to Hutt Central and Woburn. The flat terrain suits walking and cycling for local trips, and the Hutt River Trail is readily reached for longer recreation.
Getting Outdoors
The Hutt River and its stopbanks form the main outdoor asset on the eastern side of Alicetown. Walkers and cyclists use the river trail for exercise and commuting links through the valley. Ewen Bridge provides a crossing point and views along the water.
Petone’s beach and foreshore lie a short distance south, offering a change of scene by the harbour. Within the suburb itself the streets are quiet enough for neighbourhood walks, and the nearby western hills (including areas toward Maungaraki and Normandale) add options for those wanting steeper tracks a little further afield.
Where to Learn More
Hutt City Council – Local Marae: Official details on Te Tatau o Te Pō Marae, including location, hapū affiliations and contact information.
Wikipedia – Alicetown: Overview of location, history, schools and transport with citations to primary references.
Māori Maps – Te Tatau o Te Pō: Marae profile covering iwi, wharenui, ancestral connections and address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Alicetown?
Alicetown is a central suburb of Lower Hutt in the Wellington region, north of Petone and west of Hutt Central beside the Hutt River.
Which council ward is Alicetown in?
It sits in the Central Ward of Hutt City Council.
How do I get to Alicetown by public transport?
Use Ava station on the Hutt Valley Line or Western Hutt station on the Melling Line, plus buses that stop at Alicetown Shops and along Cuba Street and Hutt Road.
What schools are in Alicetown?
Hutt Central School (Year 1–6) and Te Ara Whanui Kura Kaupapa Māori o ngā Kōhanga Reo o Te Awa Kairangi (Year 1–8). Intermediate and secondary options are nearby across the river.
Is there a marae in Alicetown?
Yes. Te Tatau o Te Pō Marae is at 437 Hutt Road. It belongs to Te Āti Awa hapū and is associated with Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika.
What is the main shopping area?
Local shops concentrate along Cuba Street and the surrounding Alicetown shopping strip.
How was Alicetown named?
It was named for Alice Maud Fitzherbert, daughter of early Lower Hutt mayor William Fitzherbert.
What outdoor spaces are nearby?
The Hutt River Trail and stopbanks run along the eastern edge; Petone foreshore is a short distance south.
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