Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. While common in England and parts of Aotearoa, hedgehogs were still a rarity in Manawatū in the early 20th century.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The planning and building of the Civic Administration Building, from 1969. It was officially opened 28 September 1980.
The project was championed by mayor Brian Elwood. There was much public and council debate about the project's cost and design. The first phase of the project included underground car parks and shops. The second stage, the Council Administration and Council Chamber buildings began being constructed in December 1975 and was finished in 1979. The Convention Centre and its facilities began being constructed in December 1978 and opened for use in September 1980. The civic complex ended up costing $10.6 million, very much in excess of earlier budgets.

This map is from a set of three cadastral maps for the former Fitzherbert Road Board. This board was established in 1889 to administer the land between the south bank of the Manawatū River and Tararua Range, formerly controlled by the Manawatū Road Board. The Fitzherbert Road Board remained as a separate administration until 1902, when it was amalgamated with the Manawatū Road Board to form the Kairanga County Council.

This map is from a set of three cadastral maps for the former Fitzherbert Road Board. This board was established in 1889 to administer the land between the south bank of the Manawatū River and Tararua Range, formerly controlled by the Manawatū Road Board. The Fitzherbert Road Board remained as a separate administration until 1902, when it was amalgamated with the Manawatū Road Board to form the Kairanga County Council.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The original Upper Gorge Bridge was built in 1875. Designed for both road and railway traffic, it was narrow. The gorge road was widened in the 1920s and the bridge was repaired and replaced in 1931 with a second bridge. The closure of the Manawatū Gorge in 2017 also saw the present Upper Gorge Bridge closed.

As part of their centenary celebrations, the City of Melbourne organised an Air Race from London to Melbourne. The Manawatū entrants, Squadron-Leader Malcolm McGregor, the then local instructor, and H. C. Walker, first 'A' licensee trained by the Club, finished in fifth place. Their Miles Hawk ZK-ADJ was the first single-engine machine to reach Australia and they were also the first of 'Handicap Only' competitors. H. C. Walker provided an account of the race in Middle Districts Aero Club: 1928-1978 Jubilee publication (1978).

As part of their centenary celebrations, the City of Melbourne organised an Air Race from London to Melbourne. The Manawatū entrants, Squadron-Leader Malcolm MacGregor, the then local instructor, and H. C. Walker, first 'A' licensee trained by the Club, finished in fifth place. Their Miles Hawk ZK-ADJ was the first single-engine machine to reach Australia and they were also the first of 'Handicap Only' competitors. H. C. Walker provided an account of the race in Middle Districts Aero Club: 1928-1978 Jubilee publication (1978).

On 30 May 1987, 24 pilots and instructors from the Manawatū District Aero Club set a new 24 hour challenge record by keeping a Piper Tomahawk ZK-EVA aloft for 23 hours, 51 minutes and 56 seconds. The club flew 286 circuits, used 528 litres of fuel and spent 21.88 hours off the ground covering a distance exceeding the distance from Milson to Sydney and back again. Refueling occurred every 4 hours, with hourly pilot changeovers. Several of the participating pilots are seen in front of the clubhouse. They are, from left: G. McNeill; A. Mitchell; C. Hammond; R. Wallace; A. Young; R. Bowling; D. Penny; C. Rowland; S Anderson; T. Cook; S. McNichol (Chief Instructor); M. Anderson; R. Portch; R. Fox; G. Thompson; H. Ham; B. McEwen; G. White; A. McLean; M. Mikkelsen. Absent from the photograph were I. McNair and G. Pedersen.

As part of their centenary celebrations, the City of Melbourne organised an Air Race from London to Melbourne. The Manawatū entrants, Squadron-Leader Malcolm MacGregor, the then local instructor, and H. C. Walker, first 'A' licensee trained by the Club, finished in fifth place. Their Miles Hawk ZK-ADJ was the first single-engine machine to reach Australia and they were also the first of 'Handicap Only' competitors. H. C. Walker provided an account of the race in Middle Districts Aero Club: 1928-1978 Jubilee publication (1978). From left: Len Mangham, Clarence Aitken, Robert McGaffin, Laura Stannard, Robert Tanner, Mac McGregor, Johnny Walker, Herbert Edmunds, Ernest Barnett, John Smillie.

This photograph is from the Manawatū District Aero Club archives. The Manawatū Aero Club was established following a public meeting in November 1928, with the objective of promoting aviation in the district. In September 1937, they became the Middle Districts Aero Club after merging with the struggling Feilding Aero Club. The organization changed its name to the Manawatū District Aero Club in late 1983. In May 2016, the MDAC merged with the Manawatū Microlight Club, with the new incorporated society known as the Manawatū Aviation Club.

Ernest (Ernie) Vilhelm West (1885-1961) was a Palmerston North architect and member of the Middle Districts Aero Club. His first flight was in 1909, when visiting the Crystal Palace, London, he flew in a Farman box kite. However, West did not learn to fly until 1935, at the age of 51, when he trained in a DH 60. Two of his sons lost their lives in the airforce during the Second World War. Darby West was killed in a flying accident in 1942 and Squadron-Leader Peter West, D.F.C., was shot down while on a loan reconaissance in 1942. A third son, Murray West joined the airforce in 1943. Ernie was reportedly the oldest active pilot in the world and earned the nickname 'Pop' West.

This photograph is from the Manawatū District Aero Club archives. The Manawatū Aero Club was established following a public meeting in November 1928, with the objective of promoting aviation in the district. In September 1937, they became the Middle Districts Aero Club after merging with the struggling Feilding Aero Club. The organization changed its name to the Manawatū District Aero Club in late 1983. In May 2016, the MDAC merged with the Manawatū Microlight Club, with the new incorporated society known as the Manawatū Aviation Club.

The figure on the left is Ernest (Ernie) Vilhelm West (1885-1961), a Palmerston North architect and member of the Middle Districts Aero Club. His first flight was in 1909, when visiting the Crystal Palace, London, he flew in a Farman box kite. However, West did not learn to fly until 1935, at the age of 51, when he trained in a DH 60. Ernie was reportedly the oldest active pilot in the world and earned the nickname 'Pop' West.

This photograph is thought to show an event at the Milson Aerodrome.

This photograph is from the Manawatū District Aero Club archives. The Manawatū Aero Club was established following a public meeting in November 1928, with the objective of promoting aviation in the district. In September 1937, they became the Middle Districts Aero Club after merging with the struggling Feilding Aero Club. The organization changed its name to the Manawatū District Aero Club in late 1983. In May 2016, the MDAC merged with the Manawatū Microlight Club, with the new incorporated society known as the Manawatū Aviation Club.

This photograph is from the Manawatū District Aero Club archives. The Manawatū Aero Club was established following a public meeting in November 1928, with the objective of promoting aviation in the district. In September 1937, they became the Middle Districts Aero Club after merging with the struggling Feilding Aero Club. The organization changed its name to the Manawatū District Aero Club in late 1983. In May 2016, the MDAC merged with the Manawatū Microlight Club, with the new incorporated society known as the Manawatū Aviation Club.

J. Linklater (M.P. for Manawatū and the aero club's president), J. G. Coobe (Minister of Defence) and club member D. F. Smillie pose in front of a World War I Bristol Fighter. The Bristol, a R.N.Z.A.F. Machine, had been flown up from Wigram Air Force station specifically for the opening.

This photograph is thought to show an event at the Milson Aerodrome.

This photograph is from the Manawatū District Aero Club archives. The Manawatū Aero Club was established following a public meeting in November 1928, with the objective of promoting aviation in the district. In September 1937, they became the Middle Districts Aero Club after merging with the struggling Feilding Aero Club. The organization changed its name to the Manawatū District Aero Club in late 1983. In May 2016, the MDAC merged with the Manawatū Microlight Club, with the new incorporated society known as the Manawatū Aviation Club.

This photograph is from the Manawatū District Aero Club archives. The Manawatū Aero Club was established following a public meeting in November 1928, with the objective of promoting aviation in the district. In September 1937, they became the Middle Districts Aero Club after merging with the struggling Feilding Aero Club. The organization changed its name to the Manawatū District Aero Club in late 1983. In May 2016, the MDAC merged with the Manawatū Microlight Club, with the new incorporated society known as the Manawatū Aviation Club.

The Palmerston North Flying School was formed in 1966 by Alexander Brian Milne (a former RNZAF Pilot Officer in WWII and 'A'Cat pilot) and Syd Jensen.

This photograph is from the Manawatū District Aero Club archives. The Manawatū Aero Club was established following a public meeting in November 1928, with the objective of promoting aviation in the district. In September 1937, they became the Middle Districts Aero Club after merging with the struggling Feilding Aero Club. The organization changed its name to the Manawatū District Aero Club in late 1983. In May 2016, the MDAC merged with the Manawatū Microlight Club, with the new incorporated society known as the Manawatū Aviation Club.

This photograph is thought to show an event at the Milson Aerodrome. It may show the opening of the Middle Districts Aero Club's new twin hanger and clubhouse in December 1938. Unfortuantely, on 17 February 1939 in a large fire which destroyed the clubhouse and twin hanger, along with aircrafts including the Porterfield ZK-AFS and two Tiger Moths (ZK-AFU and ZK-AGE).

The Middle Districts Aero Club acquired its first Tiger Moth in 1938 and by the end of 1949, had a fleet of six Tigers. These were considered the most practical aircraft for training new pilots. In 1958, Champions began replacing Tigers as the preferred training aircraft. The club's last Tiger, BGX, was written off in an accident at Taupo.

Members of the aero club and a large group of boys stand around a landed aircraft.

This photograph shows members who were prominent in club affairs at the time standing in front of a hanger and three aircrafts at Milson Aerodrome. From the left: A. Chandler, J. Penny, R. McDonald, G. W. Dixon, H. E. Edmunds (president), R. L. McGaffin, L. Stannard, Squadron Leader M. McGregor (instructor), H. C. Walker, J. B. Smillie, D. Smillie, O. Green, R. Tanner, M. McLeod, R. Linklater (club captain), N. Lecher and B. Short.

From left (seated) are: M. Nathan, L. Stannard, H. E. Edmunds and Miss Shannon. Standing are: K. G. Chamberlain, J. B. Smillie, N. R. Lecher, R. L. Forrest, A. Radford, R. Linklater, A. H. Honeyfield, E. W. Pearse, R. L. McGaffin, J. Penny, G. W. Dixon, G. M. Firth, R. Gilbertson, V. B. Short, B. Shannon, E. A. Hawker, F. Carpenter, W. J. Foley, J. Ganderton and J. L. Terry.

The street in the centre of the photograph, running towards the Manawatū River, is Victoria Avenue. Broadway Avenue runs parallel to the lower edge of the photo, with the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit visible in the lower righthand corner.

This photograph is from the Manawatū District Aero Club archives. The Manawatū Aero Club was established following a public meeting in November 1928, with the objective of promoting aviation in the district. In September 1937, they became the Middle Districts Aero Club after merging with the struggling Feilding Aero Club. The organization changed its name to the Manawatū District Aero Club in late 1983. In May 2016, the MDAC merged with the Manawatū Microlight Club, with the new incorporated society known as the Manawatū Aviation Club.

Work on the foundations for the Civic Administration Building is visible in the upper right of this photograph, suggesting a date of about 1976 or 1977.