Postcard - The Square, Palmerston North

Description

One of a series of postcards donated anonymously to the Ian Matheson City Archives. The postcards are addressed variously to a Mrs R. Fergusson of Rose Bank, Halcombe and Miss Elsie Simpson of Manchester Street, Feilding.

This postcard shows the view from the interior section of Main Street to Coleman Place (now Coleman Mall). The small building in the centre is the Gentleman's lavatories. From left, the buildings are: Manawatu Tea Rooms (part of Bon Marche); Bon Marche - leased by CM Ross to form a department store and tearooms in 1905. In 1927, the present building was constructed (the lease having been bought by Ross) and became Roscos. In 1959, the shop was sold to Milne and Choyce Ltd, who in turn sold it to the DIC in 1967. It changed hands again to become a branch of Arthur Barnett's. In 1996, it was extensively remodeled in order to meet the needs of a new public library; The old fire station in Coleman Place was run by volunteers and built around 1883; the bell tower is visible. The station moved to Cuba Street in 1910; The building on the corner of the Square and Coleman Place is the Union Bank of Australia. It was destroyed in a fire in 1910; Everybody's Theatre built in 1912 and operating here until 1927. Garner and Garner's (G&G) drapery, Andrew Millar's Stationary and Bookshop and Edwards and Son's Hardware Merchants are also in the photo.

The image is similar to that depicted in https://manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/00660769-19ed-4b6d-a17a-a3b6f6f66ceb but appears to be a higher quality reproduction.

Identification

Archive

Z-Collection

Relation

2017-38

Date

1910 to 1914

Digitisation id

2026P_2017-38_044280_001

Format

Postcard

Held in

Coolstore