Group at "Gypsy Fair" on Railway Land Reserve

Architectural plan showing a proposed shed at the A&P showgrounds. Created by G Parker and dated 1 July 1924.

Architectural plans created for the A&P association, circa August 1940. Plans Include the original A&P Hall, exterior entrance, Ladie’s Restroom, pig and sheep pavilions, an overall site plan, as well as alterations and additions to existing buildings.

The showgrounds were opened in 1886 on the site of the first cemetery plot in Palmerston North, and still stand bound by Cuba, Pascal, Waldegrave and Featherston Streets. Situated near the CBD of Palmerston North on Cuba Street, the site is currently called Central Energy Trust and boasts 6 arenas.

Plan of buildings for Milson Aerodromme Inc. The Aerodromme opened in 1931, with commercial flights beginning in 1936.

Palmerston North City Councillor Lorna Johnson hosts "Making Palmy Home", a Manawatū People's Radio series interviewing migrants about their journeys to Palmerston North. This episode features Frank Boulton. Frank is a life-long human rights activist and talented linguist.

Palmerston North City Councillor Lorna Johnson hosts "Making Palmy Home", a Manawatū People's Radio series interviewing migrants about their journeys to Palmerston North. This episode features fellow City Councillor Renee Dingwall. Born in Samoa, Renee initially came to Palmerston North for her husband's job.

Palmerston North City Councillor Lorna Johnson hosts "Making Palmy Home", a Manawatū People's Radio series interviewing migrants about their journeys to Palmerston North. This episode features Raza Nayeel and covers his life in Afghanistan, role as a community leader for Manawatu Afghan Society and some of the challenges of settling in to life in Palmy.

Name: Domain

Suburb, Palmerston North Central

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Henry Jackson's survey plan of 1872 shows a large gravel pit occupying the future Domain Street site, accessed by a branch tram line (see map sections 694-700). The pit was subsequently filled to enable railway extensions.

Scott’s plan in 1881 shows two acres of the railway yards reserved for a domain. Therefore, this street was intended as an access road to a domain which did not eventuate.

Domain Street was surveyed in 1881, D.P.228, sections 322 and 339, and was originally a private street.

The image is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923 by HR Farquar, Civil Engineer and Licensed Surveyor.

History

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In August of 1884 at a Palmerston Borough Council meeting, councillor Gatton presented a petition from residents of Domain Street. It requested that the street be taken over by the council as the requirements of the Borough Engineer had been complied with. The petition was discussed at the following meeting. Councillor Hawkins opined that the residents should tidy and repair the street first. Councillor Larcomb confirmed that the street was in disrepair. Others, including councillor West, argued that the residents had been paying rates and should expect the council to maintain their street in return.

In September of 1884 a special meeting was held to pass a resolution that Domain become a public street. However, the matter was once again adjourned. The issue? The street was forty-feet wide and the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, required public streets to be sixty-six feet wide.

This must have been resolved, as in November of 1884, Domain Street was included in the list of town streets to be metalled and formed. Street lamps, grading, a storm water outlet, sewer connections, and water tables were addressed from 1900 to 1910.

A reoccurring complaint was the state of the footpaths. As an access street directly across from the railway station, it became heavily congested (particularly on show days) and the footpaths suffered. They were regularly treated with tar and sand and received concrete curbing and channelling in 1925. It was also in 1925 that parking restrictions were made; a result of the narrow road. The tar-sealing of the street in April 1934 was welcome.

In 1940, the 28th Māori Battalion trained at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. To learn more about their time in Palmerston North, read this Memory Lane article by Tina White.

On June 21st, 1940, the Manawatū Standard reported on the 28th Māori Battalion leaving the city. Their final farewell parade left the Showgrounds, moved along Cuba Street, and marched up Domain Street to the railway station. Friends, whānau and members of the public accompanied and cheered the men on their way.

At the station hundreds of people had assembled to wish the soldiers well and watch them depart for Wellington to board troopships. The mood was quieter and more emotional. Tiger, the battalion mascot, was led up and down the platform, leaning his front paws on the window ledges of the train for final pets and farewells. You can read more about Tiger in this Back Issues article by Tracey Armstrong.

Early residents included

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Mr John Lynch purchased a section allotment in Domain Street in 1883 and a house was in situ the following year. Mr J Lynch was born in County Cork Ireland in 1852 and emigrated to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1876, on the ship Inverness. He is listed as a farm labourer. On arrival he worked as a farm contractor and carpenter.

Mr John Lynch met and married a fellow immigrant, Miss Mary Hyam, in 1876, and in time they settled in the Manawatū district. The couple had eight children; Daniel b.1883, Thomas b.1886, Nora Lena b.1891, Kathleen Agnes b.1892, Mary Magdalene b.1894, John Jeremiah Patrick b.1894, Julia Bridget ‘Dolly’ b.1896, and Emily Theresa b.1898.

Mr Lynch successfully encouraged his brothers Daniel and Jeremiah, to join him in Aotearoa New Zealand. Mr Jeremiah Lynch lived with the family in Domain Street c. 1884 before moving and settling in Pohangina.

In 1887 Mr Lynch had sold the house in Domain Street and purchased a section allotment in Wood Street, at the edge of town. The house on this section was destroyed by fire the following year. By 1894 he purchased six acres of bushland on the corner of Featherston and Wood Streets and there the Lynch family made their home, initially farming in Linton and Tokomaru.

Mr Lynch retired in 1912 and moved into town. He died at 37 Grey Street, on the 3rd of March 1931, aged 79 years.

Mrs Hannah Hansen owned the property at 2 Domain Street from 1899 until her death, September 1923, aged 70 years. Mrs H Hansen was born in Ireland and emigrated to Aotearoa New Zealand, c. 1867. She first lived in Dunedin and was married to Doctor CJ Allen. He died in 1880.

Mrs CJ Allen later met and married Mr Hansen and the couple came to reside in Palmerston North. Mr Hansen predeceased her by fifteen years. She was a fruiterer with a store in Te Marae o Hine the Square from 1899 and likely resided on premises while owning and letting several properties in the township. The store was located two down from the Bank of Australasia, on the corner of Te Marae o Hine the Square and Broad Street (later Broadway Avenue). In June 1912 the business was taken over by Mrs J Anderson, and Mrs Hansen retired to Domain Street.

Mr Johannes Hansen, also known as John, was resident of 10 Domain Street from 1922. Even though he wasn’t an early resident of the street, he was an early resident of the Manawatū. The Manawatū Standard reported that on 21 Nov 1930, Mr J Hansen attended the ‘Old Identities’ lunch, catering to “pioneers and settlers, city makers and nation builders.”

He died on the 1st of February 1939, in his 95th year, at 15 Domain Road (renumbered from 10) and was interred at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery.

Early business, organisations and clubs included

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In 1890, Palmerston North Methodists purchased two sections in Cuba Street and an adjoining section in Domain Street. A cottage on the Cuba Street section was moved to the Domain Street section as a residence for the minister. A small church was built on the corner section and services commenced in 1891. In August of 1910 a kindergarten was built at the rear of the church on Domain Street. The school, designed by AW Corslett, was capable of seating 150 children.

John Black, proprietor, built the Café de Paris Hotel in 1892 and it opened in 1893. He had previously been a railway contractor in the South Island and had worked on the Napier breakwater. It was in Napier that he met his wife, and the couple moved to Palmerston North. The unlicensed 22-bedroom hotel, situated on the corner of Main and Domain Streets, was ideally situated opposite the railway station. As such, it provided accommodation for boarders and travellers and a place to obtain refreshments for the latter.

The dining room, fitted with small tables, was sizable. On just one day of the A&P Show of 1893, over six hundred visitors had their luncheon in the establishment.

1893 proved an eventful year for Mr J Black. In June he was awarded a publican’s licence by the Palmerston Licensing Committee and was applauded by the public in attendance. In August, there was some excitement when a heavily disguised Whanganui Gaol escapee, George Harper, was arrested in the hotel. He had escaped from a hard-labour gang two months prior. When arrested the confidence trickster was in-the-act of trying to defraud Mr Black of money. In December, Mr W Hook of Timaru purchased the Café de Paris from Mr Black.

By February of 1895 the hotel had changed hands and was under the management of Mrs Susan Manson. Mrs Manson added further bedrooms, sitting rooms, billiard rooms and a dining room. The freehold and lease was purchased in April 1900 by the Ward Brewery Company who on-sold to Mr FJ Tasker. While the Café de Paris Hotel was in his hands, he added a billiard table and made alterations. In 1902, Mr Tasker added nine bedrooms and bathroom on the Domain Street frontage, and a balcony the full length of the building. Architect, Mr Ludolph Georg West, designed the plans.

In June of 1904, the Trasker’s sold the hotel to Mr E Woollright. In little over a year Mrs E Kennedy purchased Mr Wollright’s interest and disposed of it to Mrs Rebecca Tabor, who then transferred it to Mrs Mary Moynihan. Mrs Moynihan was licensee of Café de Paris until November 1906 when it was transferred to Mrs James Adams. She treated the hotel to a painting and refresh, with renovations being completed in June of 1908.

In September of 1912 the license was transferred to Mr John Smith Fletcher, who sold it to Mr Mark Dumbleton in January of 1916. Mr M Dumbleton renovated the hotel. Between December of 1920 to Feb of 1921 the hotel changed hands four times, from Mr Dumbleton to Mr Edmund Perkis to Mr Patrick John Purcell, to Mr Thomas Richards. Mr T Richards was well-known in trotting circles in Auckland and New Plymouth. Local newspapers show he was in trouble regularly for trading at Café de Paris outside of licensed hours. In 1923 an extension was built on the Domain Street frontage, with an opening to a courtyard.

In 1927 the license transferred between four owners, Mr Richards to Mr Henry Bodley, to Mr James Condy to Mr and Mrs F Jabez Bebbington. The Bebbington’s managed the Cafe de Paris Hotel for four years. In March of 1931, the new licensee was Mrs Florence Lucilla Mills. By June of 1935, Mrs ST Murphy was licensee, and in May of 1937 Mr William Charles Coldicutt took over the hotel. It continued to change hands throughout the years.

In 1963 the Main Street frontage was replaced.

The building was demolished in August of 2016 after significant fire damage eighteen months prior. Mr Gary Young was the owner. It had become an iconic bar in the 1980s, hosting live music from local and national acts.

Renumbering

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The addresses on Domain Street were renumbered in 1939. See p.86 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.

A resource created by Palmerston North Branch NZ Society of Genealogists What is the Palmerston North Settlers Collection? It consists of files of documents, photographs and stories contributed by families about their relatives who lived in or near Palmerston North. It was accumulated over a 30 year period, and collated by Noeline Penny for the Palmerston North Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists. The collection also aims to list all published information about these families, including booklets, newspaper articles etc. What is the scope of this collection? Initially it was intended to include families living in Palmerston North and its immediate farming environs, in the period 1875-1900. However, contributions have been received for some families further afield in the Manawatū, and some for more recent times.

Japan surrendered to the allies of World War II on 15 August 1945. Immediately schools and businesses in Palmerston North were closed and celebrations, many informal, began. A thanksgiving service was held that afternoon, followed by a victory parade the next day. The parade attracted a big turnout of civilians and defence personnel, a flotilla of 130 vehicles of all kinds, and a huge number of spectators lining the streets. The procession began at the Police Station and went around The Square, lead by the Manawatu Scottish Society’s Highland Pipe Band. The City, Garrison and Salvation Army bands also took part. The parade was followed by community sing-song led from the Band Rotunda. Shown here is the Manawatu Scottish Society Pipe Band. The Drum Major is J R Matheson.

Window displays formed part of the celebration and festivities to mark the end of World War Two.

The Manawatū Evening Standard reported on 15 August 1945: "One of the features of the hour was a magnificent window display by the C. M. Ross Coy. Ltd., which was exceedingly well carried out in a large island window. Carrying the central motif: 'Peace: Victory WIth Honour,' it was done in the national colours of red, white and blue. The background carried a large representation of a bell which swung to the recorded peals of bells given through a loudspeaker hook-up. At either end of the display stood figures representing the Armed Forces in uniform. Resting in the foreground were weapons of war, a Bren gun and a rifle, while on them perched little white doves. The display had been prepared carefully and kept screened and when the time came the screens were dropped and the whole revealed."

On the corner of The Square, looking down Broadway, the VJ (Victory over Japan) Day parade, marking the end of World War 2, draws a large crowd. Also see 2010P_IMCA-DigitalLibrary_004501

The VJ (Victory over Japan) parade passing the corner of The Square and Broadway, watched by a large crowd.

This image show the construction of Northcote Office Park, on Grey Street, by Fletcher Challenge and Corporeal Holdings Ltd.

The negative comes from a file compiled by M. D. (David) Evans when working for the PNCC Planning Department. Evans was employed as planning assistant from 1955 to 1968, Deputy City Planner from 1968 to 1978 and Senior Planning Officer (Design and Development) from 1978-1988.

This photograph shows construction nearing completion on a six-storey building on the corner of Rangitikei Street and Te Marae o Hine The Square. The building was designed by the architects Gillman Partners Ltd and constructed for the Bank of New Zealand.

The negative comes from a file compiled by M. D. (David) Evans when working for the PNCC Planning Department. Evans was employed as planning assistant from 1955 to 1968, Deputy City Planner from 1968 to 1978 and Senior Planning Officer (Design and Development) from 1978-1988.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The life story of Constance Abraham (1864-1942). Mother of seven, community leader in Palmerston North and accomplished sportswoman.

The Lido swimming pool is situated on 10 acres of land previously owned by the old Awatapu Golf Club. The pool was planned in 1964, building got under was 23 January 1965 and was officially opened 15 November 1966. The Lido consists of indoor and outdoor pools.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The history of radio listening since 1924. By the 1930's, it is estimated that more than half of New Zealand homes had a radio. Tuning in to the 'wireless' became a communal activity, bringing people together at the same time of day.

A J Berryman purchased the music shop business of J P Leary in The Square in 1920, carrying on this business. In 1932 he purchased a section in Broadway Avenue and constructed new premises. Two years later these were enlarged to cover practically the whole of his section of land. In 1934 Berryman’s opened up a sports department and expanded the radio service department. The building remains and is still used for retail.

99.4 FM Kiwi Music Week. Interviews, Live to Airs, Giveaways. 100% kiwi music all week. April 10th-16th. 99.4FM radio Massey.
Part of a collection of posters that were displayed at The Stomach, Lombard Street, venue for Creative Sounds Society Incorporated.

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. It depicts two houses, since demolished, that were located opposite the bandstand in Albert Park, Auckland.

A large variety of subjects are depicted in the collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent themes. The exact location of the photographs in the Young Collection is unknown, but W J Young lived on a farm in Mt Stewart, Rangitikei, and some of the photographs include his house. The Young family were apparently avid travellers and photographs later in the collection feature scenes from Rotorua, Auckland, Whanganui, as well as other unidentified locations. The portraits are all unidentified, but are presumably of members of the Young family. The photographers parents were George Henry (b 1833) and Jane McDowell (b 1842, d 1916). They came to New Zealand in 1877. The same year, they bought the home farm on Mt Stewart and called it Kilrudden after Kilrudden House, the home of the McDowell family in Ireland. The couple had four children: Ann (b 1873), Margaret (b 1876), John (b 1878) and William James (b 1880). William James married Mary Elizabeth Thompson and they had four children: Doris (b 1914, d 1989), George (b 1916, d 1991), Royden McDowell (b 1925, d 1992) and Noel William (b 1927, d 2013).

This booklet discusses the various uses of natural gas, including for water heating, space heating, cooking appliances and using CNG (compressed natural gas) in vehicles. It included a separate insert outlining the installation and usage costs associated with conversion to natural gas.

This photograph was taken by the Manawatu Evening Standard to illustrate fashion, but it was not used. The women are unidentified, but the location appears to be the Woodville Racecourse.

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. The tram is crossing Queen Street, with the Direct Supply Company (D.S.C.) store visible on the corner.

A large variety of subjects are depicted in the collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent themes. The exact location of the photographs in the Young Collection is unknown, but W J Young lived on a farm in Mt Stewart, Rangitikei, and some of the photographs include his house. The Young family were apparently avid travellers and photographs later in the collection feature scenes from Rotorua, Auckland, Whanganui, as well as other unidentified locations. The portraits are all unidentified, but are presumably of members of the Young family. The photographers parents were George Henry (b 1833) and Jane McDowell (b 1842, d 1916). They came to New Zealand in 1877. The same year, they bought the home farm on Mt Stewart and called it Kilrudden after Kilrudden House, the home of the McDowell family in Ireland. The couple had four children: Ann (b 1873), Margaret (b 1876), John (b 1878) and William James (b 1880). William James married Mary Elizabeth Thompson and they had four children: Doris (b 1914, d 1989), George (b 1916, d 1991), Royden McDowell (b 1925, d 1992) and Noel William (b 1927, d 2013).

Name: Hydrangea

Suburb, Milson

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The lane is named for hydrangea, hydrangea macrophylla. An exotic plant found in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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

In Milson, a number of streets around the Clearview Reserve and off Clearview Drive are themed on plants found in New Zealand. This area was subdivided by Fair Investments Ltd. between 2002-2006, D.P. 91090.

During 1970, Palmerston North gas supply changed from using coal gas, manufactured at the Napier Road gasworks, to using natural gas, piped from the Kapuni gas field in Taranaki. Natural gas first arrived in the city on 23 June 1970 and the Napier Road gasworks ceased operations on 22 November 1970.

A 14-page booklet describing the activities of the Gas Department during the conversion from coal gas to natural gas.

Name: The Cutting

Suburb, Milson

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The way is named “The Cutting,” a railway term referencing excavation in a land rise in order to lay railway tracks. There is a deep cutting at the rear boundary of this street, on the North Island Main Trunk. November 2018.

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

From the 1920s it was acknowledged that the Palmerston North Railway Station and goods shed were no longer large enough for purpose. Services to and from the station, and the rails through the centre of town, were also causing traffic congestion. The solution was to move or 'deviate' the railway around, instead of through, the city.

Milson became suburb in 1925. At request of landowner Mr Henry Vile it was named after Mr Robert Milson an early settler who had owned the block of land. The Railway Department purchased 37-acres of Mr H Vile’s property and built dwellings there for workers on the upcoming railway deviation.

The Milson railway deviation was to branch off at Longburn and run along the northern side of Palmerston North, later joining with the New Plymouth and Napier Lines. Twin lines would run between the Milson Suburb and Boundary Road (later Tremaine Avenue) where the new station was proposed. The station was originally planned for Rangitikei Line.

Deviation work started in 1926 but stalled during the depression.

Work recommenced on the Milson cuttings in 1937. There were two excavations. A main cutting started about half-way along Boundary Road (later Tremaine Avenue) and extended under the bridge at Milson’s Line. The second was further from the city where the two lines diverged. “The Cutting Way” is situated along the second cutting. About 60 men were employed to carry out the work.

Railway worker, Mr JB Blenkhorn, lost his life in an earthfall while working on a Milson cutting in June 1938. The work gang were sitting having lunch under a clay bank, when it broke. A huge fall of earth came away from the 10-foot bank. Another member of the gang, Mr Jack Chapman, was seriously injured.

Spoil from the cuttings was used in the base of the excavations to form the rail roads, it also lined the sides of the tracks in gradients that were later metalled. The remainder was manoeuvred into two large mounds. These were removed to where spoil was required at other points of the tracks, and 70,000 cubic yards was reserved for filling at the station site.

The Milson deviation was finally completed in 1959.

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. The woman appears to be on the tower of St Matthew's Anglican Church, Hobson Street, Auckland.

A large variety of subjects are depicted in the Young collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent themes. The exact location of the photographs in the Young Collection is unknown, but W J Young lived on a farm in Mt Stewart, Rangitikei, and some of the photographs include his house. The Young family were apparently avid travellers and photographs later in the collection feature scenes from Rotorua, Auckland, Whanganui, as well as other unidentified locations. The portraits are all unidentified, but are presumably of members of the Young family. The photographers parents were George Henry (b 1833) and Jane McDowell (b 1842, d 1916). They came to New Zealand in 1877. The same year, they bought the home farm on Mt Stewart and called it Kilrudden after Kilrudden House, the home of the McDowell family in Ireland. The couple had four children: Ann (b 1873), Margaret (b 1876), John (b 1878) and William James (b 1880). William James married Mary Elizabeth Thompson and they had four children: Doris (b 1914, d 1989), George (b 1916, d 1991), Royden McDowell (b 1925, d 1992) and Noel William (b 1927, d 2013).

Work began on the deviation of the railway line to the outskirts of Palmerston North in 1926 but it was not completed until 1959.