Local History

Articles and books pertaining to the history of Palmerston North and surrounding areas.

Back to all Collections

Skandia No. 1, 18 November 1875

This Danish-Norwegian newspaper was produced in Palmerston North on 18 November 1875. The editor was Hjalmar Graff. It is believed that this was the only volume produced. This copy was presented to the Manawatu Evening Standard offices in the 1950...

Creator:      Hjalmar Graff
Date:          November 18, 1875

Notes on the Māori History of Palmerston North

This manuscript contains a brief history of the Māori in Palmerston North. Ian Matheson, City Archivist, created a series of manuscripts on local history in the course of his work.

Creator:      Ian Matheson - Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1986

Notes on history of Library 1876 - 1929

Notes on the early history of Palmerston North Public Library, firstly as a Reading Room through to the construction of a new library on the corner of Fitzherbert Avenue and The Square in 1929. Ian Matheson, the author, was employed by the Palmers...

Creator:      Ian Matheson
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          June 1977

Savage Crescent State Housing Precinct - Cultural Significance Report

"This report was commissioned by the Palmerston North City Council in response to submissions received to the 1990/91 and 1991/92 Palmerston North City Council annual plans which requested that Council initiate a strategy to encourage the retentio...

Creator:      Di Stewart and Associates (for PNCC)
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1993

"The Sharp and Parker families ...from Northern Ireland and Yorkshire to Rongotea"

A family history as written by Patricia Reesby about her Sharp and Parker ancestry. She recounts their history prior to emigrating to New Zealand, and subsequently. Pat is the daughter of Win (nee Parker) and Bill Reesby. Win was the daughter of J...

Creator:      Patricia Reesby
Place:          Rongotea, Manawatū

The Story of Totaranui

This booklet details the history of the historic cottage Totaranui, which now sits in the Te Manawa Museum complex.

Creator:      Historical Committee of the Centennial Association
Date:          197X

Swimming in early Palmerston North

A short history of swimming as leisure in Palmerston North, in river and pools.

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          2007

Memories of working in C M Ross Tearooms in the 1940s

Four page manuscript written by Corleen Harford, reminiscing about her days working as a waitress in the C M Ross Tearooms as a young woman. The tearooms were on the second floor of the department store overlooking The Square. The C M Ross buildin...

Creator:      Corleen Harford
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          August 1999

The Houses of Massey

A brief history of the houses that became part of Massey Agricultural College and Massey University.

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          2007

"Kelvin Grove - Roslyn History"

Article on the history of Kelvin Grove and Roslyn areas of Palmerston North.

Creator:      Val Burr
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1991

City of Palmerston North Municipal Hand Book 1937

City of Palmerston North Municipal Hand Book 1937 - Palmerston North, N.Z. Keeling and Mundy Limited, Printers and Bookbinders 1938.

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1937

‘Taonui, Lombard and Campbell Streets’

Taonui, Lombard and Campbell Streets are amongst the earlier streets settled in Palmerston North. Brian Mather, as a member of the Local History Study Group, gave a series of lectures to interested members. Later, his lecture notes on Taonui, Lomb...

Creator:      Brian Mather and the Palmerston North Historical Society
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 2006

Origins of street names of Palmerston North

Typewritten list of the names of streets in Palmerston North and their origins, as in 1953. Includes some alterations and additions in the hand writing of A G S Bradfield. An amended version of this list was published in 'Forgotten Days' by Bradfi...

Creator:      A G S Bradfield
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1953

Palmerston North House Design Guide

The purpose of this guide, which was created by the Palmerston North City Council in June 1996, was to "outline the principles for the design of housing in residential parts of the city... It provides information and suggestions to assist you in d...

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Date:          1996

Garry O'Neill part 1, writing local history - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 21st April 2020. Part 1 of 2. Why writing local history? Gestetners. Palmerston North Historical Society booklets. Early research on NZ tour of Gemini space capsule. School histories. Parish history. Brian ...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          April 21, 2020

History morning talks in Ashhurst

Advertisement for an Ashhurst history morning talk by Kerry Griffiths on July 6th, 2019.

Creator:      Ashhurst Library
Place:          Ashhurst
Date:          July 6, 2019

History morning talks in Ashhurst

Advertisement for an Ashhurst history morning talk by Kerry Griffiths on September 28th, 2019.

Creator:      Ashhurst Library
Place:          Ashhurst
Date:          September 28, 2019

Palmerston North War Memorial - list of names of war dead

A complete list of all the people named on the Palmerston North War Memorial Cenotaph in The Square, in two parts. The first part is the original WWI names from the 1926 Memorial opening, transcribed in 1990. The second part is a list of names fou...

Creator:      PNCC and War Research Group
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1990

Display: P K Fowler – wartime aviator

A brief history of Philip's Fowlers wartime service. His archives, mainly on his flying career in World War One and Two, are held at the Ian Matheson City Archives

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Place:          International
Date:          2008

Thorrold – Jaggard’s Caravans

Notes on the caravans built by Reginald Thorrold - Jaggard, a Palmerston North architect. The archives of the architectural firm of Reginald and William Thorrold-Jaggard are held in the Ian Matheson City Archives

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          2006

Awapuni Memorial Rededication

The Awapuni Memorial was rededicated at the ceremony at the Palmerston North Race Course on Thursday 20 October

Creator:      Lesley Courtney
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          October 20, 2016

Power: Electrical Supply to the Manawatu

Colin Rush, the author, was involved in the Electrical Industry from 1952. He began at Hayward’s sub-station, was then employed as a cadet, and worked in the engineering work-shop. After being called up for Compulsory Military Training he left the...

Creator:      Colin Rush
Place:          Manawatu
Date:          2013

Robért Embroideries

A brief illustrated history of Robért Embroideries, a long standing business in Palmerston North. Archives of the business are held at the Ian Matheson City Archives.

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          2007

'The City Corporation: What it is and what it does'

A typed manuscript describing the Palmerston North City Corporation (now the Palmerston North City Council), its functions, organisational structure, departmental responsibilities and associated facilities. Includes names of the council and depart...

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          September 1988

Notes on the Origin and Meaning of Some Manawatū Placenames

A research file detailing place names in the Manawatū region that was compiled by Ian Matheson at the request of The Country Women's Institute.

Creator:      Ian Matheson
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          March 1971

The Settlement of Rangiotu

An unknown author details the arrival of his family in Rangiotu in 1937. The document describes daily life in the area during the 1930s and 1940s. The earlier name for Rangiotu was Puketotara.

Creator:      unknown
Place:          Rangiotu
Date:          1937

Manawatū Roll of Honour 2014 - 2018

This alphabetical list encompasses new research that collates the names of all Manawatū connected deaths during World War I, as can be best ascertained.

The list was compiled from Manawatū War Memorials and Rolls of Honour based on the original M...

Creator:      Christine Clements
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          2019