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Description

Charles Macintosh Ross purchased the ‘Bon Marche’ business on this site in 1883. In 1924 plans were made to purchase adjoining land and to erect this building. Wellington firm McMillan Bros. won the job at £27,746.

Arthur Robert Allen and Herbert Leslie Hickson drew their design from the ‘Chicagoesque’ style – an American school dominated by Louis Sullivan and John Welborn Root. Sullivan and Root designed buildings that featured larger windows, skylights and lighting in stairwells, to maximise natural light. However, Allen & Hickson also recreated the unique top line of Ross’ original little shop, including the flagpole, onto the top line of this building.

In 1959, the 'Roscos' store became Milne & Choyce, then in 1966 D.I.C., followed by Arthur Barnett in 1987. In 1992 PNCC became owner of both land and buildings, and the building reopened as the new library on 25 May 1996. While its above-verandah façade is largely authentic, its interior was substantially replaced during the upgrade.

Identification

Object type
Image
Relation
IMCA Digital Archive
Date
June 2020
Digitisation ID
2020BD_IMCA-DigitalMaster_031923
Format
Born Digital

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Taxonomy

Tags
2020s,
architects,
architecture,
buildings,
the square,
Community Tags

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Related items

45-51 The Square – the Grand Building, former Grand Hotel
161-163 The Square – Mowlem Buildings (a.k.a. ‘Bares Buildings’)
36 The Square – ‘Childs’ building’, now Lone Star Café & Bar
Ladies’ Rest Room, The Square
145-148 The Square, 5-21 Rangitikei Street, 288-302 Cuba Street - @ the hub
1-3 The Square – former Union Bank of Australia/ANZ Chambers
476-482 Main Street - The Square Centre, former Public Library
126-136 The Square – Former Palmerston North Chief Post Office
149-152 The Square – Westside Chambers, former ‘M.L.C. Building’
Palmerston North Civic Administration Building, The Square
85-88 the Square - Bryants Building
141 The Square – Imperial Chambers