David McEwen (1818-1905) married Mary Neish (1819-1876) in Scotland. They arrived in New Zealand with their eldest child in 1840. While living in the Hutt Valley David served on the District Road Board and the Provincial Council. They moved to Kar...

Date:          circa 1860

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The life story of Danish immigrant Olga Monrad, née Berg (1843-1884). The Monrad family were early settlers in Karere, near Longburn.

Creator:      Lesley Courtney
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          January 18, 2025

Bishop Ditlev Gothard Monrad, his wife, sons Viggo and Johannes and families came to the Palmerston North area from Denmark in October 1866 and settled at Karere, 3 miles from Longburn near Palmerston North. The Bishop was the former Premier of De...

Creator:      G W Shailer
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1883

The Rockstrows were an early Manawatū family of German extraction. Johann Friedrich Rockstroh (1834-1913) was a Prussian born in Erfurt, Germany. As a young man he migrated to New Zealand, where he practiced medicine in the goldfields of Otago and...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1892 to circa 1896

Kristen Gibson was the great grand-daughter of Frits Jenssen, an early settler and Mayor of Palmerston North. Her great grandfather was a sawmiller with Jacob Nannestad who built Caccia Birch house.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          October 6, 1992

Kristen Gibson was the great grand-daughter of Frits Jenssen, an early settler and Mayor of Palmerston North.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          October 6, 1992

Charles Tricklebank (1829-1910) arrived in New Zealand in 1856. He married Eliza (1832-1912) and they subsequently had 12 children. From Foxton Charles explored what was to become Palmerston North in the 1860s, and then moved to the area. He cons...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1880 to circa 1889

This building was owned by George Matthew Snelson, the first storekeeper, auctioneer and land agent in Palmerston North. It stood on the western side of The Square between Coleman Place and Main Street west, the site now occupied by the City Libra...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          1 The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1878 to circa 1884

Transcription of Shipboard diary written by third class steerage passenger on the 'Ionic', sailing from Gravesend and Plymouth in England to Wellington and Port Chalmers in New Zealand. The writer departed from Plymouth on 6 December 1884, with hi...

Creator:      Mr Cole?
Date:          1884 to 1885

Charles Monro (1851 - 1933) is credited with introducing the game of rugby to New Zealand. He returned to Nelson from schooling in England, where he had played the game of rugby. While a hybrid game of football was played in New Zealand at the tim...

Creator:      Ian Matheson City Archives
Place:          kelvin Grove Cemetery, James Line, Palmerston North
Date:          November 3, 2020

The Monro memorial, built in 1970, is dedicated to Charles Monro, and recognises him for introducing rugby to New Zealand.

In 2011 Massey university revamped the memorial and the original plinth was replaced with a steel sculpture and storyboards...

Creator:      Ian Matheson City Archives
Place:          Bourke Road, Massey University
Date:          October 15, 2020

John Nairn (c1864-1943) came to Palmerston North from the South Island and established his market garden business, Manawatu Vineries, in 1893. The family business largely grew tomatoes, cucumbers and grapes. L-R: Annie Jane Nairn (nee McDowall); ...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1885

“Totaranui”, constructed at 49 Fitzroy Street c1875, was built for Peter Manson, a sawmiller, farmer and Borough Councillor, and his family. It was bought by the Pascoe family in 1908 and in 1970 the family gifted it to the Palmerston North City C...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          49 Fitzroy Street, Palmerston North
Date:          February 24, 1970

This house, built for Mr and Mrs Peter Hansen and family at Linton, replaced the tent the family originally lived in. From left: Peter Hansen; child; Mrs Hansen and baby; child; Olga Hansen; Ingrid (who became Mrs Cook of Havelock North).

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1897

The property of Bishop Monrad, former Prime Minister of Denmark and family. Translated from Danish on rear of photograph, written by Olga Monrad, daughter in law of Bishop Monrad: “The lake, called lagoon. The garden fence is visible to the right....

Creator:      T Bloch, Nelson
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1868

Las Lassen (Lars Larsen) arrived in New Zealand in 1871 and was allotted Section 415, Lot 15 (25 acres) on the corner of Napier and Stoney Creek Roads. He moved on to Hawkes Bay and then Dannevirke, there marrying Christine Bak 19 August 1876 in ...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1871

The home of Bishop Monrad, former Prime Minister of Denmark and his family. Translated from Danish on rear of photograph, written by Olga Monrad, daughter in law of Bishop Monrad: “House and lagoon seen from the clearing (or river flat, slette-pla...

Creator:      T Bloch, Nelson
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1868

Samuel Dawick (c1829-1888) was the founder of the temperance hotel and restaurant, 'Dawick's Buffet' in 1875, situated in Rangitikei Street. Dawick was married to Rebecca and had two sons, William and Edward. They were amongst the first rate play...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1880

Solomon Abrahams (1849-1932) was born in London, of Jewish parentage, and came to New Zealand in 1865. He first worked in Wellington before coming to Palmerston North in May 1872. He set up business as a General Store keeper, and later became a ...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1910

Richard and Joseph Poulter Leary were prominent businessmen in Palmerston North. They were born in Australia. Joseph came to New Zealand in 1863 and was Palmerston North’s first printer and newspaper proprietor, starting 'The Manawatu Times' in 18...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1881

Property of Bishop Monrad, former Prime Minister of Denmark and family. Translated from Danish on rear of photograph, and written by Olga Monrad, daughter in law of Bishop Monrad: ”The little enclosure where my little boy is buried. We have made ...

Creator:      T Bloch, Nelson
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1868

Property of Bishop Monrad, former Prime Minister of Denmark and family. Translated from Danish on rear of photograph, written by Olga Monrad, daughter in law of Bishop Monrad: "The yard is facing the paddock 10 minutes walk straight ahead brings y...

Creator:      T Bloch, Nelson
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1868

Alexander McDonald (1829 - 1905) arrived in New Zealand in 1840. He married Annie Cameron in 1852, and they lived in the Whanganui, Rangitikei and Manawatu districts.

Creator:      Unknown
Date:          circa 1870

Alexander McDonald (1829 - 1905) arrived in New Zealand in 1840. He married Annie Cameron in 1852, and they lived in the Whanganui, Rangitikei and Manawatu districts. This watercolour is reputed to show Alexander McDonald reading a document outsid...

Creator:      Walter Leslie
Date:          1896

Scandinavian settlers of Palmerston North. Researcher Val Burr notes: Arrived on ship "England" 1871 from Denmark. Took over Lot 13 of Stoney Creek Scandinavian Block. Carl found work in Southern Hawkes Bay on a sheep station. Ida, his wife, becam...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Unknown
Date:          circa 1871

Reminiscences of the life of Annie Aldridge (1866 - 1952) as recorded by her son Leslie Aldridge Hanson (1904 - 1981). The recount tells of her early life in England, arriving in Palmerston North c.1872 and early days in the growing town.

Annie w...

Creator:      Leslie Aldridge Hanson
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          unknown

Property of Bishop Monrad, former Prime Minister of Denmark, and family. Translated from Danish on rear of photograph, wrotten by Olga Monrad, daughte rin law of Bishop Monrad: “View from the living room window, the lawn nearest, flower border, fu...

Creator:      T Bloch, Nelson
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1868

Mary McKenna (d.1918) married Peter Manson (c1842-1880), sawmiller, farmer and Borough Councillor for Palmerston North 1877-1879, in 1876. They had two children, Jane born 1877, and Evaline born 1879. They were the first owners of 'Totaranui' Fitz...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1882