More Info →A View of Te Marae o Hine / The Square

This photograph of The Square was probably taken from one of the top storeys of the CM Ross Building (Roscos Department Store) and showcases some of the changes that have taken place in The Square since the 1940s. Note the lack of the Hopwood Clock Tower (built 1957) and the presence of a large band rotunda in its place. This band rotunda was constructed in 1907 and demolished in 1956 during the construction of the clock tower. The train line that once ran through The Square can be seen behind the War Memorial (built 1926). The rail tracks were removed after the completion of the Milson Deviation made them redundant in 1959. Even the vegetation in The Square is markedly different - notice the native cabbage trees that grace it's lawns. One consistency is the marble statue of Te Peeti Te Awe Awe in the quadrant of The Square near to Church Street East. Built in 1907, this statue still stands in the same location today.