Window Shopping in the Past

A winter wonderland at Chartwell Square, c.1998

Reference: 2014.29.04

With Christmas only a week away, the countdown is on! Getting organised for the season can feel daunting, and one tradition for Hamiltonians has long been a festive shopping trip to Chartwell.

The story of Westfield Chartwell Centre begins in 1962, when Hamilton City’s boundary was extended into land that had previously been part of Waikato District Council. A century earlier, in 1872, Walter Chitty emigrated from Kent and established a farm he named Brooklyn. His cousin Thomas Jolly owned nearby Frankton, and Chitty himself played a key role in founding today’s Agricultural and Pastoral Show.

The area later became known as Chartwell, named after Sir Winston Churchill’s country home. In 1966, the land was zoned for a commercial centre and sold to a private company. Hamilton City Council approved the plans the following year, and in 1970 Chartwell Square opened with a supermarket, seven shops, and an automotive centre.

Growth was rapid. By 1974, 49 shops covered 10 acres; in 1982, Chartwell had become one of New Zealand’s largest shopping complexes with 65 stores. A 1992 expansion brought the total to 82 shops and more than 800 car parks.

For over 50 years, Chartwell has been part of Hamilton’s story. To this day, when locals say they’re “going to Chartwell,” it usually means one thing - they’re off shopping.

Chartwell Square complex, before the renovations, c. 1982

Reference: 2014.29.04

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