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Back Issues: 'Elwood's battleship' : The fight to build Palmerston North's prominent and striking civic centre

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Description: Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The planning and building of the Civic Administration Building, from 1969. It was officially opened 28 September 1980.
The project was championed by mayor Brian Elwood. There was much public and council debate about the project's cost and design. The first phase of the project included underground car parks and shops. The second stage, the Council Administration and Council Chamber buildings began being constructed in December 1975 and was finished in 1979. The Convention Centre and its facilities began being constructed in December 1978 and opened for use in September 1980. The civic complex ended up costing $10.6 million, very much in excess of earlier budgets.