The Municipal Opera House that once graced Church Street has a long and storied history. It was opened by Mayor Maurice Cohen on November 12 1905 to great fanfare. Some accounts say that the opening day almost ended in disaster after too many curious attendees chose to visit the upper gallery at once, leading to signs of visible sagging. The facilities were used for a variety of events over the years including as a movie theatre, concert hall, meeting place, events hall, and as a venue for sports, particularly wrestling. It was renovated inside and out in the 1950s after being condemned as unsafe. The work including substantial reinforcement throughout and an extensive remodeling of the exterior. After many further years of useful service, declining usage numbers led to the building being sold in 1992. It was demolished in 1996. Below are just some resources the Ian Matheson City Archives holds about the building - do you have something to share? Get in touch with us at heritage@pncc.govt.nz
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The actors in "David the Shepherd Boy" are seen here in costume raising money for patriotic purposes for WW1. According to Manawatu Times, (5 August 1915, Page 8), the show was "brilliant and successful".
Creator: Unknown
Place: Palmerston North
Date: August 4, 1915
Group of Palmerston North Council workers and their partners at a fancy dress ball, believed to be at at the Opera House. Far left: Ian Robertson, partnering Francis Laurenson, library staff member, standing in front of Ian.
Creator: Argosy Industrial Photos
Place: Palmerston North
Date: December 1959
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened an...
Creator: Maurice Thompson
Date: August 30, 1964
People dressed in costumes for a theatre production or fancy dress party. Visible are several knights, nuns, friars and ladies.
It is believed to be a photograph of nurses performing a revue at the Opera House 10-11 August 1945, with entertainmen...
Creator: Elmar Studios, 459 Main Street, Palmerston North
Place: Palmerston North
Date: August 10, 1945
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened an...
Place: Corner of Ashley Street and Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: circa 1955
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard 26 August, 1959. "The shiny white ivory keys of the new Steinway concert grand piano looked extremely inviting to the crowd of people who gathered in the Opera House this m...
Creator: Manawatu Evening Standard
Place: Palmerston North
Date: 1959-08-26T00:00:00+00:00
John McGrath was involved backstage at the Opera House for many years and was its manager from 1961-?. His musical career started in the late 1950s when he ran several dance bands in Palmerston North. He was one of the original members of the Palm...
Creator: Manawatu Guardian
Place: Palmerston North
Date: 1975
This register for the Palmerston North Municipal Opera House and Coronation Hall records bookings from 1935 until 1940, for performances, meetings and the activities of community groups. The Municipal Opera House, designed by F J Wilson and built ...
Creator: Palmerston North City Council, Treasurer's Department
Date: October 1935 to October 1940
This register for the Palmerston North Municipal Opera House and Coronation Hall records bookings from 1940 until 1945, for performances, meetings and the activities of community groups. During the Second World War, these venues were also used to ...
Creator: Palmerston North City Council, Treasurer's Department
Date: November 1940 to October 1945
The Municipal Opera House, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected for the Palmerston North Borough Council in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and w...
Place: Palmerston North
Date: circa 1912
The rear of the Opera House taken shortly before the building was demolished.
Creator: Peter Patten
Place: Corner of Church and Ashley Street, Palmerston North
Date: June 1996
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened an...
Creator: Peter Patten
Place: 380 Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: May 1996
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened an...
Creator: Peter Patten
Place: 380 Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: June 1996
From left can be seen the fourth Palmerston North Court House, built 1897, which served, with additions and alterations, until 1988. Behind can be seen the Opera House, built 1904-1905, in Church Street. It was demolished in 1996. To the right, th...
Creator: Unknown
Place: Palmerston North
Date: 1905 to 1929
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened and r...
Creator: Unknown
Place: Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: 1950
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened and r...
Creator: Evening Post, Wellington
Place: Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: 1937
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened an...
Creator: Peter Patten
Place: 380 Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: June 1996
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened an...
Creator: Peter Patten
Place: 380 Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: June 1996
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened and r...
Creator: Unknown
Place: Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: 1950
The Municipal Opera House as seen from Ashley Street shortly before demolition. The Opera House, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Pal...
Creator: Peter Patten
Place: 380 Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: June 1996
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened an...
Creator: Peter Patten
Place: 380 Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: June 1996
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened and r...
Creator: Unknown
Place: Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: 1950
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened and r...
Creator: F A Tier
Place: Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: 1950
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened an...
Creator: Colin Rush
Place: Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: 1986
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened on 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened...
Creator: Ray Carter
Place: 380 Church Street
Date: October 1996
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 6th February 199.
"BB King, Palmerston North Opera House, January 10. Wednesday night, the last week in January, and Riley B. King made his first visit to Palmerston No...
Creator: Manawatū Evening Standard
Date: February 6, 1991
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened and r...
Creator: Unknown
Place: Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: 1912
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened and r...
Creator: Unknown
Place: Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: circa 1904
The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened an...
Creator: L G West Son & Callendar (architects) for Palmerston North City Council
Place: Corner of Ashley Street and Church Street, Palmerston North
Date: August 24, 1954
The cast of "Life with Father", performed by the Palmerston North Little Theatre Society at the Palmerston North Opera House 22-24 November 1945.
The 16 cast members were: Kay Nichols, Helen Whitehead, Derek Bennett, Ian H. Stewart, Barry Powell, ...
Creator: Elmar Studios, 459 Main Street, Palmerston North
Place: Manawatu
Date: circa November 22, 1945