More Info →Evans Family Collection: Evans family playing cricket, 5 Mansford Street

A photographic series prepared by the Prime Minister’s Department in 1947 to attract British migrants. The Evans family of 5 Mansford Place, Palmerston North were selected to show the living conditions of a typical New Zealand family. In 1938 the Evans family of 5 Mansford Place were one of the first tenants in the Savage Crescent state housing area, Palmerston North. Here Jack Evans plays cricket with sons John and Michael on the front lawn. Betty Evans is at the window with a baby, Julie Silvester, ‘borrowed from a neighbour’ to create a picture of more 'typical' family. The scene showed that state houses provided a safe and healthy environment for children. The trellis is a standard design supplied to all sections to divide the front and back of the section.