Cuba Street, Name and History
Name
The origin is unknown. It is assumed to be named after Cuba Street in Wellington, which was named after the ship, "Cuba."
The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923.
The Cuba was a barque of 270-273 tons captained by John Newcombe. The New Zealand Company sent her ahead of immigrant ships from England in July 1839, carrying a survey team of 23 people. The team was led by surveyor-general, Captain William Mein Smith. Their job was to meet principal of the company, Colonel Edward Gibbon Wakefield who had set out on the Tory two months earlier, make purchases of land and survey it for the colonists, to follow.
During the voyage, the barque called at Porto Praya, Cape Verde Islands, where yellow fever came aboard. One of the survey team, William Matthews, died at sea.
In September 1839 the larger 500 to 550-ton vessels, Oriental and Aurora, left England carrying 145 and 148 immigrants respectively.
On arrival in New Zealand, Cuba missed meeting Wakefield on the Tory, at Kaipara. The Cuba made its way to the whaling station on Kapiti Island where whaler, Captain George Young, boarded. He then navigated Cuba to Port Nicholson. She cast anchor off Pito-one (Petone) foreshore in early January 1840.
Although the Oriental had left England first, Aurora arrived in Port Nicholson a week earlier – docking on 22 January 1840. Both landed immigrants on the Pito-one (Petone) beach.
History
Cuba Street was one of the city's original streets. It first ended at Short Street (now known as Cook Street) and was extended out to Burns Avenue at a much later date. To learn more about the original planning and design of Cuba Street, take a look at this Back Issues article by Lesley Courtney.
In 1871, Palmerston’s first public cemetery was established on the site of the present Palmerston North Showgrounds. By 1875, a decision was made to move the cemetery to Napier Road, due to the Cuba Street site being too wet. The bodies were exhumed and reinterred at Terrace End Cemetery.
At the November 1878 Palmerston Borough Council meeting, councillor Coleman proposed that tenders be called for forming and metalling Cuba Street. Though it was one of the first streets of the town, it now needed significant attention. A fair amount of the work was expected to be funded in debentures.
At the December 1878 Palmerston Borough Council meeting, the council accepted the tender of Messrs Collins and McCarthy, £148 15s 6d; plus footpaths and kerbing at £2 7s 3d per chain.
In September of 1880 the lowering of the culvert at the junction of George and Cuba Streets, deepened the water table to drain towards the bush. After further lowering of the water table the following month, gravel was spread.
In 1981, Cuba Street was the scene of barbed wire, police lines and protesters; when anti-Apartheid activists opposed the Springbok Tour. Take a look at this Back Issues article by Stephen Berg to find out more.
Early residents included
Mr Alexander McMinn, the founder of the Manawatū Daily Standard, lived at 92 Cuba Street (corner of Bourke Street) from 1885. The first issue of what was to become the Manawatū Standard was published on the 29th of November 1880. He sold the paper to Frederick Pirani in 1891. Mr McMinn was an accomplished piano player and he and his orchestra regularly provided the musical entertainment for dances at Oddfellows’ Hall. Architect LG West planned alterations to the McMinn’s home in 1904. Tina White covers a 1909 interview with Mr McMinn in this Memory Lane article. They lived in the house until 1912, when they moved to Auckland.
Early business, organisations and clubs included
From 1881 WT Wood Blacksmith, Wheelwright, and Veterinary Shoeing Smith, ran his business on the corner of Rangitikei and Cuba Streets (between the Royal and Clarendon Hotels). When the building was destroyed by fire in September of 1894, it was rebuilt next door in Cuba Street, besides the Clarendon Hotel. William Thomas Wood was mayor of Palmerston North from 1895-1899 and 1901-1903. After over 30 years of business and community service, the Wood’s left Palmerston North in 1913. Mr E Walders, Veterinary Shoer & General Blacksmith took over Mr Wood’s business.
In 1885, the English and American Coach Factory, Robert Parr proprietor, adjoined WT Woods. This was taken over by Browning and Tory Coachbuilders. Like its neighbour it was destroyed by fire. It reopened in 1896 as WA Browning Coachbuilder. By 1914, adjusting to changing times and technology, the business became WA Browning Carriage and Motor Works, with Mr CH Mundy his motor engineer. In 1919 the business was sold to Messrs GP Adler and Co.
In 1886 the Borough Council determined that the old cemetery plot in Cuba Street would become a Showground. Established by the Manawatū and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association, it has hosted: A&P Shows, sports clubs and events, military troops, celebrations, relief and transit camps, parades and more. For a brief history, read Palmerston North Showgrounds History, by Leanne Croon Hickman.
Methodist services began in Palmerston North in 1871, with the first church built in Broad Street (later Broadway) in 1872. Due to congregational growth, a second church was established in Cuba Street (corner of Domain Street) in 1890, with services commencing in 1891. The church was identified by several names, Wesleyan Church, Methodist Church, and Cuba Street Church. It underwent renovations in 1903, and in 1910, bursting at the seams, a kindergarten was built at the rear of the church to accommodate a roll of 120 infants. With their building fund containing enough money in 1922, planning began for a new church on the site of the present structure. The architect, Mr Oscar Albert Jorgensen, designed a building that would seat 430 people. In 1924 the old church was completely remodelled and the new brick church built. The foundation stone of, the Trinity Methodist Church was laid in March and the opening was celebrated in July.
From 1895 the Oddfellows’ Hall operated at 188 Cuba Street, between David and Andrew Young Streets. The Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows was a mutual aid organisation. Their lodge rooms were used by various Manawatū groups such as: Oroua Lodge, UAOD; Palmerston Dramatic Society; Loyal Manawatū Lodge IOOF, MU; and Lodge of Druids. Alterations and additions were made in 1905 and dances began occurring regularly in the hall. Further alterations were made five years later. This was the interior in the 1920s.
In 1889 the George family opened the Post Office Store on the corner of Cuba and Taonui Streets, it was to become a family endeavour. Mrs George Miller was the first proprietor – general storekeeper and produce dealer, house and land agent, and trader of grains. In 1901 Mr George Miller sold the business lease to Mr Joshua Cull, a Bunnythorpe settler. He continued the grocery business with Mr George H Miller Jr., who had worked in the store since childhood. In 1903, Hawera businessman, Mr J Butler took over the lease. Mr G Miller Sr. died in 1906. In 1907 the Post Office Store became Messrs Miller and Vinall, grocers and provision merchants, until Mr Holbrook purchased Mr Vinall’s interest. With Mr George H Miller the senior partner, they changed the name to Miller & Holbrook Family Grocers & Provision Merchants. The partnership was dissolved in 1911 and the business was carried on by Mr GH Miller as GH Miller Grocer and Provision Merchant, before returning to the original moniker, the Post Office Store. Mr Miller continued in the business, also called Miller’s, until 1937. It finally passed out of the Miller family when sold to Mr EJ Westwood.
In 1901 Buick & Young, Printers, commenced business from the Elizabeth Buildings, Cuba Street. In February of 1905 they started a stationers’ shop in connection with their business, also on Cuba Street. By August of 1905 Messrs Buick and Young further extended, in opening a law and commercial stationers’ shop in the Bett and Monrad buildings. In 1912 Mr TL Buick left the business. Mr Henry Llewellyn Young disposed of the stationery business, concentrating on printing and book-binding at the original plant, which had seen considerable additions. New premises were built in Broadway in 1920.
In 1904, Mr Herbert John Woodfield, purchased and built on a site in Cuba Street to extend his George Street livery business. This new venue wasn’t without problems. In January 1908, he was fined for driving 26 horses loosely along Cuba Street. Just two months later he was further charged with allowing nine horses to stray without guidance in Cuba Street. By 1922 the livery had evolved into Woodfields Motor Garage. The garage moved to Beresford Street in 1928.
In 1940, the 28th Māori Battalion trained at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. In 1964, Te Rau O Te Aroha Māori Battalion Hall was opened at 138 Cuba Street, as a national memorial to the men of the 28th Māori Battalion who lost their lives in the Second World War. The hall became a Poppy Place in 2018.
Renumbering
The addresses on Cuba Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.79 to p.83 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.
Built Heritage Inventory
- Bryant Building, 201-207 Cuba Street, 1905, 1911, 1915.
- Carlton Hotel, 169-199 Cuba Street, 1927.
- The Palmerston North Working Men's Club, 233 Cuba Street, 1928. The main entry was on Cuba Street with the lounge bar and some other spaces on Taonui Street.
- Returned Soldiers Club, 236 Cuba Street, 1917. The former Soldiers' Club became a Poppy Place in 2018.
- Mowlem Building, 268-270 Cuba Street, 1925.
- The Arcade, 256-258 Cuba Street, 1906.
- Ward Bros. Building, 213-215 Cuba Street, 1935.