Manawatū Heritage

Palace Theatre, George Street

The Palace Theatre was built in 1915 on the site once occupied by the Manawatu Stables. The Palace continued operation until 9 February 1935 when the theatre was badly gutted by fire. It was not until 1936 that the theatre reopened after extensive work was done. The front veranda roof decorations and much of the interior woodwork was replaced at this time. Palmerston Amusements Ltd owned the theatre at the time of the fire. They had planned to open a new 1300 seat theatre in its place, but this never eventuated. Instead, the newly refurbished building reopened as The Mayfair. The Mayfair became part of the Kerridge Odeon Corporation in 1946 and continued until 1965 when it was closed for a modernisation works. The theatre reopened later in 1965 as The Odeon, the name it held until the building's demolition in 1992. Harvey Norman now stands in its place next to the junction of Coleman Mall and George Street.

The movie, The Jungle Child, starring Dorothy Dalton, screened at the Palace Theatre in February 1917. The *Manawatū Times *reported that: "The wonderful tropical beauty of the South American jungle, with its wild animal life, provides a fascinating and highly original setting ... A lost explorer, who is also an unscrupulous adventurer, is rescued by a Spanish girl who has been adopted into a tribe of Indians when an infant, and reared in the strange manners and customs of the wild. He discovers that she is the missing heiress to a vast fortune, gets her into his power, and takes her back to civilisation with the intention of marrying her and claiming her fortune" (20 February 1917).

Back Issues: Milverton Park: 100 years young

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. In October 1925. William Milverton gifted 4 acres, 3 roods and 28 perches of land to the Palmerston North Borough Council. This parcel of land was to become Milverton Park, on the corner of Ferguson Street and Victoria Avenue. Milverton intended for it to be a free recreation space for the public and for children. Its last redevelopment in 2019 to a dedicated children's space reflects the aspirations of the original donor.

Fire Brigade at Gasworks Storehouse Fire

The old gasworks were located near the railways sheds. For a full account of the event, see Manawatu Standard, 5 August 1913, Page 5 in an article entitled "Explosion and Fire" (available online on www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz).

Memory Lane - "Building Manawatu history"

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. In the 1950s and 1960s, building company Beazley Homes built homes to meet a housing shortage. The nationwide company made pre-cut affordable homes, with the house and section sold as a package. Rex J. Thompson Manawatu Ltd was the local franchise building company. The company built 382 houses in 12 years in Manawatū and neighbouring regions.

Memory Lane - "Net resources boost journal"

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. The 2010 editor of the Manawatū Journal of History Cushla Scrivens discusses increased internet access to local historical material. The importance of National Library's Papers Past for researchers and contributors to the journal is highlighted.

Memory Lane - "Fee, fi, fo, fum"

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. On 22 February 1972, French wrestler Andre Roussimoff, also called Andre the Giant, came to Palmerston North for a wrestling match. His large size drew a lot of attention. He was 2.26 metres tall and weighed 229 kilos. His unusually large size was caused by a medical condition.

The Manawatū Journal of History: Issue 6

Contents:

p. 3 Editorial / Cushla Scrivens

p. 5 "Cleared to Land," early days of aviation in Palmerston North / Graham Parsons

p. 15 Design for living: the Savage Crescent conservation area / Margaret Tate

p. 25 Atawhai / Patricia Keiller

p. 35 Charles Louis Pemberton & the Pemberton village / Donald G. Irvine

p. 45 The city watchdog: Pat Kelliher, the man and his passions / Dorothy Pilkington

p. 54 Keith Westhead Thomson: weaving the strands / Lucy Marsden

p. 64 A life in photography / Ivan Mandahl as told to Betty Williamson (part two)

p. 70 Prophet not without honour: Guthrie Wilson of Palmerston North / Malcolm Prentis

p. 79 Teaching NCEA history / Dominic King

Local notes:-

Feilding & districts community archive / Marilyn Wightman

p. 82 Te Manawa / Steven Fox

p. 82 Update on the Bridle Track / Noelene R. Wevell

Book reviews:-

p. 83 "Entertaining the Manawatu: The Manawatu Savage Club's century of achievement" by Noel Watts / reviewed by Noelene R. Wevell

The Manawatu Journal of History contains articles on the history of the wider Manawatu area, written by a variety of contributors. The Journal is published annually. Conditions of use: This journal is made available for personal use, study and research and all articles remain copyrighted to their original authors. For permission to reuse or publish please contact: The Editor, Manawatu Journal Associates, PO Box 1702, Palmerston North 4440.

Southern Cross port propeller tip. February 1933

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith – Southern Cross. The Southern Cross damaged a wing when she sank into a drain while taxing at Milson NZ aerodrome on 4th February 1933. In addition to damage to the port side wing she also broke her port side propeller. My father Walter Jones, aged 19 years in 1933, lived adjacent to the aerodrome and on seeing the Southern Cross crash he jumped the boundary fence and ran to the aircraft to check the crew and passengers for injuries. From the crash site he souvenired a piece of the broken prop.

'Southern Cross' aeroplane, Milson Airport

This photograph shows the damage done to the "Southern Cross" when it landed at Milson Airport, Palmerston North. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and crew of the 'Southern Cross', a Fokker F. VII Trimotor aircraft, were delayed in Palmerston North for several weeks after the aeroplane's wing was damaged during taxiing 4 February 1933.

Car racing, Awapuni

Car racing on a dirt track at Awapuni. The track was located in the Pitama Road / Slacks Road area. Hand coloured print

Shannon School 85th Jubilee - Past pupils from years 1910-1919

Shannon Primary School celebrated its 85th Jubilee over Queen's Birthday Weekend, between Thursday 30 May and Sunday 2 June 1974.