This photograph shows many mature trees in The Square with a path leading to the Te Awe Awe statue, built 1907, and beyond to the corner of The Square and Fitzherbert Avenue. From the corner of Fitzherbert Avenue can be seen the Fisherman's Table restaurant, FMG tower, Manawatu Standard building, Square Edge, All Saints Church and, across the street, the Grand Hotel.
Looking across The Square to Arthur Barnett department store. This building was built for C M Ross Co Ltd in 1927-1928. In 1959 it was sold to Milne and Choyce, in 1966 to the D.I.C. which was bought out by Arthur Barnett in 1987. At a time of declining department stores and a new plaza on the other side of The Square, Arthur Barnett vacated the building in 1990. In 1993 the Palmerston North City Council bought the building and renovated it into the new City Library, opened in 1996.
These carvings, created by John Bevan Ford and Warren Warbrick were constructed in 1990 to honour the significance of the Māori name for The Square, Te Marae-o-Hine, The Courtyard of the Daughter of Peace. John Bevan Ford, a member of Ngāti Raukawa and a well known artist of Palmerston North was commissioned to undertake the work by the Rangitāne Maori Committee and the Palmerston North City Council. The paved courtyard provided a venue for civic gatherings where Māori protocol could be used and the set of nine wooden carvings defined the boundaries of the courtyard. The two large posts shown here contain carvings which face in two directions. The outward carvings welcome visitors to the city by Rangitāne, while the inward carvings depict Te Rongorito and her mother Hineaupounamu, bring their gifts of peace to the civic gathering place which they overlook. The group of three carved posts, shown in this picture symbolise a hope for peace and prosperity. The Square has since been redesigned but the carving and their significance remain.
From the title page, "Historical Maori Pageant Organised and Staged by the Maori People of the Manawatu District for the Diamond Jubilee Committee of Palmerston North as an event during the Celebrations, held in November 20th to 27th, 1937. Maori Committee: Rangi Marumaru (Parewanui), Chairman Hoani Meihana Apakura Meihana Durie (Aorangi) Wiremu K Te Awe Awe (Rangiotu) Akuira Te Rangi (Rangiotu) Tata Roera (Awahuri) Te Hiwawa Paurini (Tokorangi) Purangi Herangi (Pikiahu-Waewae, Halcombe) Te Haeana Wi Hemara (Motuiti) Pitihira Reihana (Motuiti) Takerei Kohika (Poutu-Shannon) Hon. Rangi Mawhete, M.L.C. (Convener) Taite Te Tomo (Kakariki) (Kaumatua representing the older generation of assembled tribes) Rikihana B Carkeek, Hon. Secretary" Printed by local company H. L. Young Ltd.
Topographical map showing boundaries proposed by the Palmerston North City Council (August and November 1988) and Local Government Commission (Interim Determination and Draft, December 1988. In 1989 there was New Zealand wide reform of Local Government. At the time about 850 local bodies were amalgamated into 86 local authorities, made up of regional and territorial levels.
Map of the Papaiōea Clearing shown in relation to the original streets of Palmerston North surveyed between 1866 - 1875. Based on Mitchell's map of 1866, Jackson's map of 1875 and Scott's map of 1881. The street names drawn on the map are present day names, not the original names. When the area was surveyed for a town the clearing was chosen as the site of what became Palmerston North due to it being a flat, open area, sufficiently elevated to avoid flooding from the Manawau River and adjacent streams. The 'clearing' disappeared during the 1870s and 1880s as settlers destroyed the surrounding forest.
Four first edition maps in a series covering Palmerston North and close environs. Map two covers Roslyn, Milson and Kelvin Grove areas of Palmerston North, and areas towards Bunnythorpe in Kairanga Council. Map shows: Section and Lot numbers of properties; size of sections and lots, Palmerston North city and country boundaray; Survey District Block boundary; Registration District boundary; Deposited Plan boundary. Drawn by Barbara M Winchester
This map shows Kairanga County as it stood in 1916.
This map was created for the Shell Company of New Zealand Ltd by Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd. Dunedin (Lithography) and Palmer and Mahood Ltd Wellington (Draughtsmen). It details the condition of all the major roads in the region, as well as amenities like camping grounds, schools, cemeteries and Shell Company petrol stations.
Plan showing the layout of the yards, between West Street and The Square. The railway station and yards were in Main Street from 1890 to 1964, when all services finally moved to the Tremaine Avenue site on the edge of Palmerston North. Much of this land is now called 'the Railway Land" and is maintained as a recreational space. Plan is a copy of the original railways plan 13984, drawn to a scale of 1 chain: 1 inch. Amended 1948 and 1953.
This building was the first purpose built Post Office in Palmerston North, sited on the corner of The Square and Main Street in 1889. In 1906 when the new Chief Post Office was built the building was first moved back on the site to make way for the new Post Office, and then later was turned to face Main Street. It was used by various Government departments for offices until, in 1988 it was deemed redundant and was offered to the Palmerston North City Council. In 1989 the City Council resited the building to the Esplanade Gardens and it became a cafe. Size of original 710 X 535mm.
Plan of 33 seater bus on Leyland 'Tiger' passenger chassis, as produced for the Palmerston North City Council. The plan is undated but Leyland produced the 'Tiger' between 1927 and 1968.
Plan of the bus station for rural buses, in relation to Church Street and Fitzherbert Avenue.
A plan for a 19 seater bus for the Palmerston North Borough Council. The Palmerston North Municipal motor service began in 1921. The plan is undated but is prior to 1930 when Palmerston North became a city.
A plan for a 27 seater bus for the Palmerston North Borough Council. The Palmerston North Municipal motor service began in 1921. The plan is undated but is prior to 1930 when Palmerston North became a city.
Minute Book of the Palmerston North Borough Council from 2 September 1885 to 11 October 1889. Palmerston North became a Borough in its own right in 1877, having previously been administered by the Wellington Provincial Council. The first Minute Book of the Borough, from 1877 - 1885, is missing. Handwritten.
The first valuation roll for the Palmerston North Borough Council (PNBC). This roll was prepared by the Council for the purposes of introducing rating on unimproved land value. The roll is presented in three parts – each is in numerical order by the legal description of the properties (section number). The three divisions of the roll appear to represent the three wards of the Borough. Many early sections were large and so may not directly correspond with modern property boundaries which have been subdivided. A modern section sharing some of the land will have the same section number and additional lot and DP numbers. Read notes found on the first page of section one of the roll regarding the actual status of the person listed as ‘owner’ or ‘occupier’. Part One includes the following section number ranges: 1-138, 201-344.
This manuscript lists the meanings of some local place names. Ian Matheson, City Archivist, created a series of manuscripts on Local History in the course of his work. To view the full item, please click the download link.
This manuscript contains a brief history of the Maori in Palmerston North. Ian Matheson, City Archivist, created a series of manuscripts on local history in the course of his work.
"A Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God commended by the Archbishops of Cantebury and York for general use on Wednesday, the 12th Day of May, 1937 being the day of the Coronations of their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminter."
The order of service from the unveiling of the Memorial Shrine at Fitzroy Memorial Park (later known as Memorial Park). The memorial was created to remember service men and women from Palmerston North and District who gave their lives during World War One and World War Two.
Plans for the development of the central area around The Square of Palmerston North. It includes proposals for the use of public spaces around Coleman Mall, Broadway Avenue and Church Street.
The Downtown building in Broadway houses retail businesses on the Ground Floor and the main cinema complex for Palmerston North on the First Floor.
A series of maps showing residential and industrial development across the city of Palmerston North.
An artists Impression of Aokautere Subdivision, Pacific Drive & Woodgate Subdivision
A concept drawing of what housing might look like on the the railway land, bounded by Pitt Street, Church Street, Main Street and Cook Street.
A plan for housing to be built in Palmerston North, on former railway land, bounded by Main Street, West Street and Church Street.
Map showing part of the area bought by the Government to open up the interior of the lower North Island. it follows the courseof the Manawatu and Oroua Rivers. "The main part of this map is traced from one drawn by Mr G L Adkin in Nov. 1956 based oh a half-scale copy (dated 1860) of J T Stewart's 2 inches to 1 mile survey of 1859. Additional names and data are from other maps by J T Stewart and from other sources. Additional pa sites have been added from a rough map drawn by the Hon. Mr W. Moffat. As the latter was not to scale these sites may be out of their true position and have been marked thus + for reference. A. E (?) Williams. August 1961"
The Wellington Manawatu Railway Company Limited constructed the rail line between Wellington and Palmerston, Which opened in 1886. The company ran the line until they sold it to the Government in 1908. Also contains a sketch map of New Zealand showing the railway systems. the map contains wider information on the ownership and use of land in the area.
Three maps pasted onto one sheet. 1. Map of New Zealand, with some general statistics and a description of the country. 2. "Thorndon Ward, City of Wellington, N.Z., Shewing Locality of Reclamation to be made by the Wellington & Manawatu Railway Co." 3. "Sketch Map of the Wellington & Manawatu Railway to accompany Sixth Annual Report of the DirectorsC
