A group of ten ushers at the Regent Theatre, Palmerston North. The woman standing second from right in the back row is Zona Broughton.

Palmerston North Borough Boundary to N. E. Kairanga County Boundary (Napier Road).

Paper maps backed on fabric, made by collaging several maps together.

This may be a drawing of the proposed suspension bridge over the Kahuterawa Stream in 1921, on the site of the present 'Black Bridge'.

This plan is accompanied by specifications signed by E.J. Armstrong. It shows Cliffton Road, Riverbank Road and Pratt's Hill.

The map is inscribed with the printer’s code in the lower right-hand corner, which reads "1000.2.04.933" indicating that the map was issued in 1904 and 1000 copies were printed.

The map features the printer’s code in the lower right hand corner, which reads "1000.9/03.712" indicating that that the map was issued in 1903 and 1000 copies were printed.

This map depicting Palmerston North and parts of the former Kairanga County Council area was drawn by Sergent R. K. Mitchell, 'I' section, 2nd Brigade Group, by Authority of the Central Military District. Its scale is 1:25,000 and it documents which roads are two way or one way and whether or not they are sealed. It also records which bridges are two way or one way together with their maximum loading.

A group attending a party held at the Regent Theatre. From left to right: Mr and Mrs Hunt Nibblenook; Butler Graham (manager); Pat Johnson; Mark Yusswitch; Zona Broughton.

Richard Slingsby Abraham (1851-1942) was a founder of the stock and station agency known as Abraham and Williams Limited. In 1876, when manager of the Bulls branch of the Bank of New Zealand, Mr Abraham acquired an interest in the firm of Stevens and Gorton, stock and station agents, but in 1883 the partnership Abraham was a well known resident of Palmerston North for many years, erecting a two-storey wooden house on the site of the Massey University campus, called 'Tiritea'.

Mrs Richard Slingsby Abraham (1858-1943) was formerly Miss Martha Frances Philson of Auckland. She married Richard Abraham (1851-1942) on 27 October 1880, and raised seven children. They lived in Palmerston North until 1903 when their large residence known as 'Tiritea' was built on the Fitzherbert Terrace, to the east of Riverbank Road, on the site now occupied by the old science building of Massey University.

This photograph was taken in the McGiffert Street depot of Child Brothers. Child Brothers Ltd, Carriers and Fuel Merchants, was established in 1919 by Edward G Child and his sons, W J Child & E W H Child. They opened the metal crushing depot and plant at the end of Albert Street near the Manawatu River c.1927. The business later became known as Child Metal Ltd.

When this photo was later reproduced in a newspaper, the caption noted: "Missing from this photograph is a five-horse team. The truck on the left is a Denbigh, while the other five are all Dennis vehicles" (unsourced news clipping, c.1950s).

Bruce MacKenzie Abernethy (1926-1999) was a Wellington dirt bike racer. He was a popular and frequent speedway competitor at the Palmerston North Showgrounds, from 1948 to 1959.

Bruce Abernethy started racing at Taita, Lower Hutt in late 1947 and was noticed by racing great, Wallace "Wally" Kilmister. Kilmister arranged for Abernethy to race for the Wembley Lions in the British Speedway League. On return from his first UK season, 1948, Pamerston North speedway goers watched his performance with anticipation and interest. Abernethy continued to race for the Wembley team until 1951.

Abernethy won consecutive New Zealand Speedway Championships in 1950 and 1951, and continued solo bike racing until 1959.

He was inducted into the New Zealand Speedway Hall of Fame in 2020.

Bruce MacKenzie Abernethy (1926-1999) was a Wellington dirt bike racer. He was a popular and frequent speedway competitor at the Palmerston North Showgrounds, from 1948 to 1959.

Bruce Abernethy started racing at Taita, Lower Hutt in late 1947 and was noticed by racing great, Wallace "Wally" Kilmister. Kilmister arranged for Abernethy to race for the Wembley Lions in the British Speedway League. On return from his first UK season, 1948, Pamerston North speedway goers watched his performance with anticipation and interest. Abernethy continued to race for the Wembley team until 1951.

Abernethy won consecutive New Zealand Speedway Championships in 1950 and 1951, and continued solo bike racing until 1959.

He was inducted into the New Zealand Speedway Hall of Fame in 2020.

Bruce MacKenzie Abernethy (1926-1999) was a Wellington dirt bike racer. He was a popular and frequent speedway competitor at the Palmerston North Showgrounds, from 1948 to 1959.

In the far right corner is Peter Lockett (1929-2000) from Palmerston North and Dene Hollier from Tauranga. Hollier was living in Palmerston North at the time and was foreman at Pink & Collison Ltd., motorcycle dealers. He was also a motorcycle racer.

Bruce Abernethy started racing at Taita, Lower Hutt in late 1947 and was noticed by racing great, Wallace "Wally" Kilmister. Kilmister arranged for Abernethy to race for the Wembley Lions in the British Speedway League. On return from his first UK season, 1948, Pamerston North speedway goers watched his performance with anticipation and interest. Abernethy continued to race for the Wembley team until 1951.

Abernethy won consecutive New Zealand Speedway Championships in 1950 and 1951, and continued solo bike racing until 1959.

He was inducted into the New Zealand Speedway Hall of Fame in 2020.

Prince Charles visited Palmerston North during the day of 2 April 1981. As part of his visit he opened the newly built Manawatu Sports Stadium. See also "Evening Standard Souvenir of the visit of HRH Prince Charles, April 2, 1981".

Anti-apartheid demonstrators outside the NZI (NZ Insurance) building in Palmerston North.

Anti-apartheid demonstrators outside the NZI (NZ Insurance) building in Palmerston North.

Introduction:
"Rotary was established by Paul Harris in 1905 to serve communities and provide fellowship and enjoyment to members. On 29 May 1924 a group of businessmen met to establish a Rotary Club to serve the Palmerston North community.

Over the 100 years, the Rotary Club of Palmerston North has been very active and this history
records what happened and what was achieved. You will see that the first 75 years was recorded by Ian Malcolm and Arthur Hall. The last 25 years has been compiled by Chris Klein and Stephen Parsons. Both records have been combined to bring the 100-year history together.

The international success of Rotary has come from established Clubs helping other Clubs to form and the Palmerston North Club has been active in supporting six other Clubs to become
established in the region. These Clubs have in turn spawned other Clubs.

It is impossible to list all the projects and events that the Club has supported. They range from
helping individuals in need, to building such major facilities as student accommodation at Massey University, a retirement village for the elderly, an outdoor education lodge, and a classroom in Samoa. The Club has helped a community in Northern India and provided medical supplies to the Pacific Islands. Funds are provided each year toward the eradication of polio.

The Club has a focus on youth through an annual programme involving a youth music festival,
sponsoring upcoming musicians, a circus for disadvantaged children, speech and essay competitions for schools, dictionaries to primary pupils in poorer areas, sponsoring students to
business week, and a science and technology forum. Youth focussed events and community clubs and individuals are occasionally supported for the development of young people.

For 100 years the members of the Rotary Club of Palmerston North have lived up to the ideals of “service above self”. This brief history provides an insight into the people, what they have achieved and the enjoyment and satisfaction they have derived from serving the community.

The current members look forward to setting the course for the next 100 years."

Text by 2025 Club President Dave Gaynor.

This copy of John Tiffin Stewart's handwritten manuscript was typed in 1967 by Ian Matheson, who has annotated each paragraph with the page numbers of T. Lindsay Buick's Old Manawatu (1903) containing information derived from Stewart's manuscript.

A drawing by J T Stewart who was the District Engineer of the Public Works Department. Drawing shows construction of the road through the Manawatu Gorge. Entitled "Manawatu Gorge. Commencement of Road - looking up Gorge from westward", and is signed J T S May 1871. The drawing is in pencil and water colour. Drawn on paper measuring 19.5 x 17 cm, and held in an unvarnished wooden frame.

A drawing by J T Stewart who was the District Engineer of the Public Works Department. Drawing shows two carved palisade posts in old pa, in bush at Wairarapa. Entitled "Figure in old Pa Wairarapa 1862". The drawing is in pencil and water colour. Drawn on paper measuring 24 x 16.5 cm, held in oval matt board and unvarnished wooden frame.

A drawing by J T Stewart who was the District Engineer of the Public Works Department. Sketch shows the construction of the Upper Gorge Bridge (at Woodville end) over the Manawatu River. Entitled "Road Bridge Manawatu Gorge building 1874" and signed by J T Stewart. The drawing is in pencil and water colour. Drawn on paper measuring 26 x 17.5 cm, and held in narrow black frame.

A drawing by J T Stewart who was the District Engineer of the Public Works Department. Drawing shows the gorge road, looking westward towards Ashhurst. Entitled "Gorge Road Manawatu 1874". The drawing is in pencil and water colour. Drawn on paper measuring 25 x 17.5 cm, and held in narrow wooden frame.

Map that shows ownership of farm land, covering the area from approximately Mangaweka to Himatangi Beach in the North Island. The index lists the farms according to the owner's name.

Produced by John Read Agricultural Consultancy Ltd, Palmerston North.

As compiled by Aerial Surveys Limited.

Maps that show ownership of farm land, covering the area from approximately Mangaweka to Levin in the North Island. The index lists the farms according to the owner's name.

Produced by Centrepoint Theatre

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In 1951 and early 1952 Jack and Beverley Holland were young teachers at the Pahīatua Camp. They were present during the period that the Displaced Persons (DPs) arrived from the three 1951 sailings of the International Refugee Organisation (IRO) ship the Goya. Displaced Persons also arrived at the camp in early 1952. Most of these had sailed to Australia on IRO registered ships and then travelled onwards to New Zealand by ship or in some cases, by plane. The people were displaced from their homes and countries by World War Two and the civil wars that followed that. They came from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. Up to 5000 Displaced persons settled in New Zealand.

The DPs came to New Zealand under a skilled migrant programme, not a humanitarian aid programme. The purpose was to aid New Zealand’s economic growth following World War Two. At that time New Zealand had an assimilation policy. The plan was that the DPs would spend 6 weeks in the camp to learn English and New Zealand law and customs, and then be placed in jobs. There was some allowance for those difficult to place in jobs, to stay on in the camp for up to one year. Women with children were often in this category. Many refuges left for jobs in remote places in New Zealand such as forestry or hydroelectric dam construction with a very rudimentary knowledge of English. It was up to them to continue their English learning if they were able.

The Holland family have kindly allowed for digital copies of the photograph album and letters Jack and Beverley wrote to their parents describing camp life to be deposited on Manawatū Heritage.

A description of life in the Pahīatua Camp for the DPs can be found in the book "Untold Stories – World War Two Displaced Persons who settled in Palmerston North."