Wellington Harrier Athletic Club is one of the oldest harrier and sporting clubs in New Zealand. Founded in 1903, the first pack run set off from the Basin Reserve on the afternoon of Saturday 4 April, with a second and main opening run on the afternoon of Saturday 18 April. In the early years most of the club’s activities revolved around a weekly pack run held each Saturday. The location of the start varied week to week between various church halls and private homes around the district, a practice that still continues today from our clubrooms located on Mt. Victoria in the heart of Wellington.

The first Wellington Harriers Cross Country Championship was held in 1905. The race was held over five miles at the local Island Bay Racecourse with eleven starters. Wellington Harriers first came to prominence at the 1909 NZAAA National Cross Country held in Timaru finishing second in the club race behind Caversham. Since then Wellington Harriers has become widely recognised both Nationally and Locally as being one of New Zealand’s most successful harrier clubs. In 1984, Wellington Harriers Senior Men secured their first off two National Road Relay titles during the decade. A decade which included a host of National medals and New Zealand Representative’s such as the house hold names of Froude, McCallum and Drake.