This building was constructed in 1927-1928 for CM Ross and Co Ltd. In 1959 CM Ross sold to Milne and Choyce, and in 1966 it was onsold to the DIC. The DIC subsequently sold to Arthur Barnett in 1989. After closing as a department store in 1991 the building was acquired by the PNCC who extensively redesigned it as the Palmerston North City Library, opening 1996. It is a listed heritage building.

This image was taken for a feature in the Manawatu Evening Standard (Then and Now in The Square - featuring photos of landmarks around the Square in 1908 an 1970). It ran on September 12 1970.

The building was constructed as part of the C M Ross department store in 1915. C M Ross was sold to Milne and Choyce in 1959, then to the DIC in 1969. Currently it is occupied by a number of separate business and shops (2008).

The DIC building as seen from George Street.

This building was constructed in 1927-1928 for CM Ross and Co Ltd. In 1959 CM Ross sold to Milne and Choyce, and in 1966 it was onsold to the DIC. The DIC subsequently sold to Arthur Barnett in 1989. After closing as a department store in 1991 the building was acquired by the PNCC who extensively redesigned it as the Palmerston North City Library, opening 1996. It is a listed heritage building.

Paper bag from the DIC department store, Palmerston North. Circa 1970s.

This building was constructed in 1927-1928 for CM Ross and Co Ltd. In 1959 CM Ross sold to Milne and Choyce, and in 1966 it was onsold to the DIC. The DIC subsequently sold to Arthur Barnett in 1989. After closing as a department store in 1991 the building was acquired by the PNCC who extensively redesigned it as the Palmerston North City Library, opening 1996.

This photograph looks across The Square and down Broadway Avenue, probably from the top floor of Roscos Department Store. The Bank of New Zealand on the corner of Rangitikei Street and The Square. The Bank of Australasia is on the corner of The Square and Broadway Avenue. Neither of these buildings stand today. Situated behind the Bank of Australasia is the Australasian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd (T&G) building in Palmerston North. Designed by A and K Henderson in the distinctive 'house' style developed by the firm, this iconic structure was built in 1938 and still stands today.

The DIC building on the corner of George Street and Coleman Mall in December 2023.  The building was constructed as part of the C M Ross department store in 1915. C M Ross was sold to Milne and Choyce in 1959, then to the DIC in 1969. Currently it is occupied by a number of separate business and shops.

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.

This photograph shows part of The Square that once included the Floral Clock and the Centennial Pavilion. The latter was a series of prefabricated buildings that sat opposite Main Street and the Commercial Hotel. The Centennial Pavilion was a meeting hall used by the community. When the City Council building were constructed, a room under the Council Chambers was incorporated for community use. It was closed in the mid 1980s.

Staff of the women's fashion showroom posing with a trophy. From left: Molly Cotton; Miss Floyd; Mrs Boyle; Molly King; ?; Trish ?; Mrs Ciochetto; Peg McNabb; Gaye Chamberlain (later Ware). Gaye Ware was employed by C M Ross and Milne and Choyce between 1957-1963. Milne and Choyce was one of the foremost department stores of Palmerston North. The business was bought from C M Ross Co. Ltd in 1959 and was sold to the D I C in 1966.

The Rosco tearooms are seen here decorated for the Royal Dinner given for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1954.

Shown here is the Queen's table and an table for other dignitaries decorated ready for a reception in the Rosco tearooms [now the City Library 2020].

The Centennial Pavilion was constructed in The Square for the 1971 Centennial. Comprised of a series of prefabricated buildings that sat opposite Main Street and the Commercial Hotel, the Centennial Pavilion was a meeting hall used by the community. It was reloacted to Kaimanawa Street in 1980, where it became the Kelvin Grove Community Centre.

Shown here is the Queens table decorated ready for a reception in the Rosco tearooms [now the City Library].

Gaye Ware worked in the Women's fashion showroom 1957-1963, first for C M Ross Co. Ltd, then for Milne and Choyce. She would sometimes model for the fashion parades that were held in the Milne and Choyce Coffee Bar. Milne and Choyce was one of the foremost department stores of Palmerston North. The business was bought from C M Ross Co. Ltd in 1959 and was sold to the D I C in 1966.

View of The Square in Palmerston North. Visible are the DIC building (formerly the CM Ross Building, now home to the Palmerston North City Library) in the background, the lakelet and the Civic Administration Building. The lakelet was constructed in The Square, Palmerston North, in 1909 by the Beautifying Society, though the fountain was not constructed until 1960

This photograph shows the Union Bank of Australia on the corner of the Square and Coleman Place. This building is still standing [2014] but has been redeveloped into two restaurants. Next door can be seen the C.M. Ross Co Ltd building. This was replaced in 1927 by the three-storey building which is now occupied by the City Library.

Shown here is a tearoom at Rosco's Dept Store ready for a civic reception for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The wall and column paneling are made from rosewood.

A Palmerston North street view with the ANZ Bank on the corner of Coleman Place, which housed the Scotch Wool Shop, the Norfolk House and the D.I.C. Building can be seen following along the left side of the street. The Odeon Theatre in George Street faces into Coleman Place (now called Coleman Mall).

Arthur Barnett bought out the DIC deparment store chain in 1989. The DIC building in The Square of Palmerston North, originally constructed as the C M Ross Co Ltd department store in 1928, then changed its name to Arthur Barnett DIC. Arthur Barnett sold the building to the City Council in 1992 and it was converted into the new City Library, which opened in 1996.

"Spring 88. 7pm. Tickets $5.00. Fashion Parade. Wedgewood Room. Tuesday 23rd August 1988. Door Sales or DIC Fashion. Palmerston North Jaycee Inc. DIC Your Family Store. Body Language." Part of a collection of posters that were displayed in the Public Library in the 1970s - 1980s.

This photograph of The Square was taken in the vicinity of the PDC building and looks towards the corner of Main Street West and The Square. The building in the centre is the third incarnation of the Commercial Hotel, built 1935. Next to it is the Commercial Building, still standing at 2015, and the DIC (Direct Importers Company). The DIC was constructed in 1927-1928 for CM Ross and Co Ltd. In 1959 CM Ross sold to Milne and Choyce, and in 1966 it was on-sold to the DIC. The DIC subsequently sold to Arthur Barnett in 1989. After closing as a department store in 1991 the building was acquired by the PNCC who extensively redesigned it as the Palmerston North City Library, opening 1996. It is a listed heritage building. The single-storey building opposite, in The Square, is the Rangitane Pavilion, a series of prefabricated buildings that sat opposite Main Street and the Commercial Hotel. The Rangitāne Pavilion was a meeting hall used by the community. When the City Council building were constructed, a room under the Council Chambers was incorporated for community use. It was closed in the mid 1980s.

This photograph shows the section of The Square between Coleman Mall and Main Street East. From Left: The Commercial Hotel (with the advertisement for Leopard: Quality Beer on top), Tates Cakes (Pink Cake Shop), Patron Pharmacy, Gerald Taylors, Williams, the Meat Market, Gloria Jewellers (?), British Office Supplies. On the right side of the image is the DIC building. This building was constructed in 1927-1928 for CM Ross and Co Ltd. In 1959 CM Ross sold to Milne and Choyce, and in 1966 it was onsold to the DIC. The DIC subsequently sold to Arthur Barnett in 1989. After closing as a department store in 1991 the building was acquired by the PNCC who extensively redesigned it as the Palmerston North City Library, opening 1996. It is a listed heritage building.

Milne and Choyce bought out C M Ross Co Ltd in 1959, and continued running the business as a department store until they sold the business to the DIC in 1966. The building is now the Palmerston North City Library.

The new City Library was originally built as the C M Ross department store in The Square, in 1928, and was also owned and operated by Milne and Choyce, DIC and Arthur Barnett. It was bought by the City Council and renovated as the Public Library, opening 1996.

A panorama of The Square in Palmerston North, looking doen Rangitikei Street in the background. Visible are the clock tower (the sound shell is now removed) and the DIC building (formerly the CM Ross Building, now home of the Palmerston North City Library).

The City Council bought the Arthur Barnett department store in 1992, converting it into the new City Library, which opened in 1996. The building was originally constructed as the C M Ross Co Ltd department store in 1928, and was subsequently owned by Milne and Choyce, the DIC and Arthur Barnett.

The C M Ross Co. Ltd was one of the foremost deparment stores in Palmerston North. The business was established by Charles Ross in 1883, and this building was constructed in 1915, linking to the main store on The Square. The business was sold in 1959 to Milne and Choyce and later was bought out by the DIC, then Arthur Barnetts.