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, Lombard and Campbell Streets were published, along with supplementary material provided by the Palmerston North Historical Society (the reformed Local History Study Group).
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The story of Cuba Street and surrounding streets from Palmerston North's early days. The street was on the original Palmerston town plan. Its commercial heyday was arguably in the first half of the 20th century, when it was predicted that it could rival Te Marae o Hine/The Square in importance. However, this importance did not endure and Cuba Street is now mostly used as the main route leading to the Showgrounds.
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 Bradfield in 1956.
This rates register details the renumbering of street numbers in Palmerston North between 1936 and 1939. The register shows the street name, old number, owner of property and new number. The renumbering runs along the entirety of one side of the street, then the other, on an east-west and north-south axis. It also includes notes on specific properties and streets that were subsequently renumbered after the creation of the register, documenting changes made up until 1980.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Life story of John Tiffin Stewart (1827-1913) town planner and government surveyor. He was responsible for the planning of Manawatū's towns in the 19th century, including the Palmerston North, Feilding, Rongotea and Halcombe town squares.
Born in Scotland, he moved to Foxton in 1864. He learnt to speak te reo Māori fluently and worked closely and respectfully with local iwi. In later years, he moved to Whanganui, where he was elected to the Borough Council.
Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. The collection of shops and houses between St Mary's Church and number 89 Ruahine Street holds special memories for many citizens. In the 1950s and 1960s, there has been a dairy, a cakeshop, a coffee shop, a haberdashery, a butcher and a hairdresser on this block opposite the hospital.
Christopher's Hairstylists, owned by "Mr Christopher" Paskins occupied number 89 Ruahine Street for many years. Today, Georgies Wigs and Hair Design lease the front shop space, whilst the back is a residential home.
Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. The 1926 land subdivision sale of RA McKenzie's Estate on Milson Line and the naming of Seaforth Avenue in a street naming competition.
Throughout Palmerston North there are numerous places named after ordinary New Zealanders who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The New Zealand Poppy Places Trust has been established to develop, promote, and oversee a nation-wide project to commemorate and recognise as part of the heritage of New Zealanders, the participation of New Zealand in military conflicts and military operational services overseas.
Name: The origin is unknown. It is assumed to be named after Cuba Street in Wellington. The Wellington Street was named after the ship, "Cuba," which landed immigrants on Petone Beach in January 1840.
The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923.
History: Cuba Street was one of the city's original streets. It first ended at Short Street (now known as Cook Street) and was extended out to Burns Avenue at a much later date.
For a comprehensive history of Cuba Street, take a look at this Back Issues article by Lesley Courtney.
In 1871, Palmerston’s first public cemetery was established on the site of the present Palmerston North Showgrounds. By 1875, a decision was made to move the cemetery to Napier Road, due to the Cuba Street site being too wet. The bodies were exhumed and reinterred at Terrace End Cemetery.
In 1940, the 28th Māori Battalion trained at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. In 1964, Te Rau O Te Aroha Māori Battalion Hall was opened at 138 Cuba Street, as a national memorial to the men of the 28th Māori Battalion who lost their lives in the Second World War. The hall became a Poppy Place in 2018.
In 1981, Cuba Street was the scene of barbed wire, police lines and protesters; when anti-Apartheid activists opposed the Springbok Tour. Take a look at this Back Issues
article by Stephen Berg to find out more.
Renumbering: The addresses on Cuba Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.149 to p.153 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.
Built Heritage Inventory:
Name: Taonui Street is named from Taonui Swamp. While the literal meaning is "big spear" or "big catch," it is a metaphor for an abundance of food and resources.
The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923.
History: Taonui Street was the first subdivision in the town, with the northern end (Featherston Street end) D.P.1, surveyed in 1872. The owner of this section (301) was WHW Haines. Through an oversight it was not dedicated until 1951. The southern end (Cuba Street end) D.P.16, was surveyed in 1874, being section 302, owner not stated. Taonui Street is one of the first streets to have a continuous row of dwellings. By 1878 there were seven houses at the northern end and six at the southern.
In the early 1880s the area around Taonui Street was known as the 'fashionable quarter' and had the nickname, "New Chum Town." Taonui Street later acquired the name "Soapsuds Alley" because of all the clothslines strung up there.
In 1913 there was talk, initiated by a special committee, of changing the name from Taonui Street to Nelson Street. There was discussion in the Manawatū Standard on preservation of local historial Māori names, versus honouring the overseas hero of Trafalger.
For a comprehensive history of the street's development, businesses, and who lived there, take a look at the lecture notes of Brian Mather and supplementary material from the Palmerston North Historical Society, circa.
2006.
Renumbering: The addresses on Taonui Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.83 and p.84 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.
Built Heritage Inventory:
Name: The origin of the name, Campbell, is unknown. The street went through in two sections at the same time as Bourke Street. There is speculation that Campbell may have been a partner of Bourke.
The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923.
History: The Cuba Street end of Campbell Street, section 304 (a third of the street) was put through in 1875. The Featherston Street end, section 299, followed in 1890. Both sections appear to have been purchased by Arthur WF Halcombe. By 1877-78 John James Waldegrave owned one property on section 299, while there were seven houses and a stable on the Cuba Street end. By 1883-84 the Featherston Street end, section 299, was owned by Benjamin Manson.
For a comprehensive history of the street's development, businesses, and who lived there, plus the Community Housing Improvement Scheme of the early 1980s, take a look at the lecture notes of Brian Mather and supplementary material from the Palmerston North Historical Society, circa. 2006.
The notes include a history of Campbell Street School, 1890-1922.
The Church of Christ was first established in Palmerston North in 1905. Meetings were originally held in private residences. In 1913, they established a central meeting place at 100 Campbell Street. Congregation members commenced work on the site of a new church in Botanical Road in 1959.
The former Church of Christ became home to the Savage Club. Beginning as a London gentlemen’s club in 1857, the Savage Club spread throughout the colonies. The Manawatū chapter was founded in 1908 as a literary society and entertainment club. In 2020, it was rebranded as OnStage Manawatū.
Renumbering: The addresses on Campbell Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.87 and p.88 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.
Name: The origin of the name, Lombard, is unknown.
The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923.
History: As one of the city’s oldest, Lombard Street was constructed in two parts. The southern Cuba Street end, D.P.35, section 300, was surveyed in 1875. The northern Featherston Street end, D.P.206, section 303, was surveyed in in 1881. The latter section was owned by Joseph Edward Nathan, of Wellington. Each section was of equal length and the Borough Council commenced subdivision in 1883.
On January 22, 1881, the first official horse race meeting was held. The course ran from Lombard Street, along Featherston Street, through the Showgrounds, and then Cuba Street. At that stage it was all open ground. Boxing Day race meetings had been occurring in the general area since 1871, on barely cleared land.
In 1930, pioneer WM Anderson, wrote a letter to the editor of Manawatū Standard including past reflections of his time as a tenant on Lombard Street, circa. 1883-5. With the street belonging to two parties there was some tension between the subdivisions. A high fence was built, blocking those with houses at the northern end from entering town. As a result, delivery services from butchers, bakers and milkmen, also had to forgo the more direct southern route (from Cuba Street) and access their northern customers via Featherston Street. When a hole was struck through the fence, yet another barrier was raised, a padlocked gate. The padlock was leased to a man who asked sixpence a week from each householder for the privilege of its use. Eventually the fence was cut down on the condition that northern end owners buy a quarter acre section on the southern end as well.
Orange Lodge Trustees (a Protestant organisation) purchased property in Lombard Street in 1883-4. The Orange Hall was constructed and became a meeting hub for many groups, organisations, and clubs thereafter. The hall was gutted by a fire in 1915 and rebuilt as the Orange Lodge Hall. In 1931 Orange Lodge temporarily housed 54 students from Central School.
A bowling green was established in Lombard Street in the early 1890s. The site was purchased in 1890 by Mr J Walkley and the bowling green established. Play began the following year and Mr Walkley reigned as club president for 12 years. With the club owning property in Lombard and Taonui Streets. The Taonui Street side was developed into a bowling green from 1907. Combined with Lombard Street it amounted to two full sized greens. By that stage Mr JA Nash, was president of the club. By 1925, due to financial restraints, the Lombard Street frontage was sold and a new pavilion built on the Taonui Street side.
For a comprehensive history of the street's development, businesses, and who lived there, take a look at the lecture notes of Brian Mather and supplementary material from the Palmerston North Historical Society, circa. 2006.
Renumbering: The addresses on Lombard Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.85 and p.86 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.
Built Heritage Inventory:
