More Info →Looking across The Square, Palmerston North, to the Southeast

This early photograph of the Square shows the view from the corner of Rangitikei Street across to Fitzherbert Street (now Avenue). On the corner of Fitzherbert Street is the second Occidental Hotel (with the distinctive tower), the first of which was built in 1887 and burnt down in 1891. This second hotel also burnt down in 1927. On the opposite side of Fitzherbert Street is the first Bank of New Zealand built in 1878. The brick building on the far right is the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, before its conversion to the Public Library in 1900. From left, the visible businesses are: W Pegden's furniture warehouse, Frederick Ireland & Co, DM George Drapery and Fred C Hatch's store (in the same complex as the Occidental Hotel), The Occidental Hotel, Bank of New Zealand, Montague's Auction House, Colville bootmaker, unidentified building, H Wickett and Company's Cash Emporium (General Drapers and Clothiers), Attwood and Co Photography, an unidentified building and the Colonial Bank of New Zealand.