Description

Name: Macpherson

Suburb, Kelvin Grove

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The grove is named to honour the contribution of the Macpherson family to commerce in Palmerston North, April 2018. From the late 1880s, local Macpherson family businesses have included: grocery, apparel, hospitality, and a garden centre. The grove is adjacent to the former retail garden centre, Macphersons Bulk Bins.

The aerial map is a derivative of the Palmerston North City Council online mapping Geographic Information System (GIS).

Mr David Macpherson was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland c. 1855. He emigrated to Aotearoa new Zealand in October 1877 on the ship Oamaru. Disembarking at Bluff in January of 1878, he pursued business and community interests in Ashburton for 20 years.

In 1880 Mr D Macpherson married Miss Margaret Jane McNutt. Miss MJ McNutt emigrated with her parents to Aotearoa New Zealand c. 1877. She was 21 years of age. Her family settled in Drury, Waikato and she stayed there until her marriage. The couple had six children, Andrew David b.1881, John Norman b.1883, William Leslie b.1886, Joseph Alexander b.1890, Vida Rebecca b.1895 and Fanny Mary b.1904.

In the late 1890s the family came to Palmerston North. Mr D Macpherson managed a grocery dept in the United Farmers Co-operative Association before starting his own business. In 1901, Macpherson the Cash Grocer, opened in premises formerly occupied by Messrs R&E Tingey, next to Mr GH Bennett on the Square. He sold his store in October 1903 to Messrs S Clare and Co., to become secretary to the Licensed Victuallers’ Association.

In 1912 Mr D Macpherson purchased Mr E Anstis’ interest in the Princess Hotel, which provided public accommodation of fifteen rooms. He transferred the publican’s license to Mr Michael O’Reilly in 1914.

Mr D Macpherson remained secretary of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association until his retirement at Manawatū Heads, Foxton Beach, c. 1921.

Mr David Macpherson died May 1927 aged 72 years. Mrs Margaret Jane Macpherson died almost a year later, in April of 1928, aged 72.

Mr and Mrs D Macpherson’s son, Mr William Leslie Macpherson, married Miss Hilda Mary Godwin in 1908. They had four children, Irene Hilda b.1912, Leslie Norman James b.1914, Margaret Betty b.1915 and Lucy Mabel b.1920.

Mr WL Macpherson started out his profession career working for the Premier Drapery Company (PDC), which he left in 1915. He then took a position with Collinson & Cunninghame’s as Head of Department – Furnishings, and remained there for a decade.

In May 1925, Messers Donald & Macpherson, bought out Garner’s on the Square. Mr RC Donald also had had ten-years’ experience at Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame. They sold clothes and Manchester.

One of Mr W Macpherson's sisters, Miss Vida or Miss Fanny, may have also been in the clothing business. From July of 1923 Tres Bon, millinery and lingerie, is advertised in local newspapers by Misses Macpherson and Randle. The store was located in the Union Buildings in Coleman Place. In January of 1924 the partnership was dissolved, and Miss Macpherson continued the business until June of 1924, when the closing down sale was advertised.

By August of 1932 Mr W Macpherson went out on his own, becoming an incorporated company. He opened a clothier and mercer store, WL Macpherson Ltd., at 4 Rangitikei Street (two doors down from the Bank of New Zealand). Within two years WL Macpherson Ltd., men’s outfitters, was relocated to 126 the Square, late Mr ED Wycherley’s premises next to McKenzies, where it operated for many years.

Macpherson's Menswear was sold to the Millers Group. It remained a registered company until 1987. Millers Fashion eventually moved into the Plaza, until closing in 2017.

Mr W Macpherson was also well-known for his commitment to education, like his father Mr D Macpherson, who was chairman of the Ashburton School Committee in 1876. Mr W Macpherson served on the Terrace End School Committee for ten years from 1924. He became treasurer in 1926 and took over as chairman in 1933.

He was Instructor in Salesmanship at Palmerston North Technical College from 1929, and a staff member of the Commercial Department for some years following.

Mr W Macpherson was also involved in the Palmerston North Girls’ High School Parents Association in the 1930s. He served on the Intermediate School Committee from 1943 to 1944.

From the 1940s Mr W Macpherson was president of the Manawatu Wairarapa Drapers’, Clothiers’ and Boot Retailers’ Association. He was also vice-president of the Manawatu-Wairarapa Employers’ Association and president of the Palmerston North Retailer’s Association. It is in the latter role that this image appeared in the Manawatū Times of November 1944, and is accessed on Papers Past.

Mr William Leslie Macpherson died in June 1963 at 77 years of age. Mrs Hilda Mary Macpherson died a month later, aged 78.

Mr and Mrs WL Macpherson’s son, Mr Leslie Norman James Macpherson, married Miss Amy Adelaide Saunders in 1937. They they had four children, David William b.1937, Neal Ivan b.1943, Ruth Ellen b.1945 and Peter Leslie.

Mr Peter Leslie Macpherson was to return to the hospitality business first entered by his great grandfather, Mr D Macpherson, almost sixty years earlier. The Coachman Motel was built at 134, 136 and 138 Fitzherbert Avenue by PL Macpherson Holdings Ltd., in 1971.

In the Manawatū Standard, 2nd June 1984, Mr PL Macpherson announced the extension of the motel, over the following twelve months, with a three storey 42-room hotel complex at 140, 142 and 144 Fitzherbert Avenue. Once completed, the strikingly stone-clad Coachman comprised 80 rooms with 220 beds, conference rooms, lecture rooms, a library, restaurant, lounge and bar, gymnasium, sauna, spa and swimming pools. The basement carpark could accommodate over 60 vehicles. The architect was Jack Canlon.

PL Macpherson Holdings Ltd., owned the hotel until 2006, when it was sold to Mr Brendan Hapeta, Mrs Leonie Hapeta and Mrs Ali McLean. At the present time it is in the hands of Distinction Hotels, who took ownership in 2018.

Mr and Mrs LNJ Macpherson’s son, Mr Peter Leslie Macpherson, was married to Mrs Cynthia Anne Macpherson. Mr Colin Peter Macpherson is their son, and he is married to Mrs Wendy Macpherson.

Mr CP Macpherson is a Palmerston North native, who attended Awatapu College in his youth.

Colin Macpherson’s Garden Centre was established at 261 Napier Road in 1993. It expanded into the retail trade in 1994 with the addition of a shop on site. The gift shop was updated in 2001. As well as the nursery, Mr C Macpherson specialised in bulk mixes such as vegetable or lawn mix. From 2020 this became the sole focus of the business, Macphersons Bulk Bins. Customers also commented on the excellent array of succulents in the gift store.

Macphersons Bulk Bins closed in 2024. Combined with Colin Macpherson’s Garden Centre – a business endeavour of over thirty years.

The Macpherson family, have been contributing to commerce and community in Palmerston North for over 125 years.

Identification

Object type

Map

Content type

Map/Plan

Date

2025

Digitisation ID

2025M_IMCA-DigitalArchive_042941

Format

Born Digital

Held In

IMCA Digital Archive