More Info →Evans Family Collection: John and Michael Evans off to school, 5 Mansford Place

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. Betty Evans and baby sees John and Michael off to school. The family had two bikes which were in general use at this time. Betty and Jack Evans biked to work and the boys usually walked about a kilometre to West End School which adjoined the state housing suburb. The family bought a Model A Ford in the 1950s. There were also two younger boys in the family, Tony and Wayne. The baby is Julie Silvester, a neighbour’s baby, chosen to create a picture of the ‘typical’ family of two or three children.