Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Mounted on the wall of the Palmerston North Brass Band room is a bass drum with more than 100 years of history. The instrument traces its playing days back to World War 1 and ...

Creator:      Russell Poole
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          October 11, 2025

A ‘typical scratch band’ of the war period, being scratched together from Linton Army Camp personnel who were able and available to play. 'Pot Wallopers' was the term given to Army staff on pot cleaning duties.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1940 to circa 1949

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. Warren and Virginia Warbrick share their love and understanding of Palmerston North, its present and its past with a wider audience. Their work includes city council cu...

Creator:      Tina White
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          July 31, 2021

This image shows the interior of St Paul's Presbyterian Church on Victoria Avenue, Whanganui. The memorial plaques on either side of the organ commemorate Rev. David Hogg and Rev. J. Treadwell and were installed in September 1897. The building sho...

Creator:      William James Young
Date:          circa 1897 to circa 1913

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. The heritage team at the Palmerston North city library celebrates local history week 2019, hosting many events for a wide variety of interests, with the common theme th...

Creator:      Tina White
Place:           Manawatū
Date:          October 19, 2019

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 22 October 1958: "With four pipers and two drummers the Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School Band gave the pupils the step for the marching display on Monday. Thi...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          56 Linton Street, Palmerston North
Date:          October 22, 1958

The newly formed Palmerston North City Silver Band grouped in front of the War Memorial in The Square. In 1972 it rejoined with the Palmerston North Garrison Band to form the Palmerston North Brass Band.

Creator:      Unknown
Date:          circa 1930

'Hamming it up' in this photograph are part of 'The Commandos Orchestra' who played at the Army, Navy and Airforce Dance Hall in George Street. They originally began as ‘The Revellers’ and ended as 'The Commanders'. From left: Devon Christensen (...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          George Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1945 to 1946

The Commandos began life as the 'The Revellers' in 1943, and were the resident band at the ANA Dance Hall (later the Ballroom Astoria, then George Street Ballroom). They disbanded in 1960. Band members included: Alan Jordan, Master of Ceremonies, ...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          George Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1948

Alan Loveday, born 1928 in Palmerston North, made his debut at four years old, as seen in photograph. Lovedays’ musical talent was well known and in 1937-1938 a series of benefit concerts were arranged to raise the 1500 pounds needed to send him t...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1933

Anglican services began in Palmerston North in 1872. This All Saints Church, built 1914, was designed by Frederick de Jersey Clere in Edwardian Free Gothic style and constructed in brick. It was the third such Anglican church on the same site. It ...

Creator:      E Creamer
Place:          Church Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1981

Shown here are members of an orchestra which used to broadcast over the 2ZF radio station in Palmerston North. From left. Back Row: Unknown, W. Martin; H. Newth; rest unknown. Middle Row: Jack Creigton, M. Wilson; all others unknown.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1920

This photograph shows a funeral for the Air Force personnel lost on 25 November 1945 during a routine meteorological flight out of Ohakea. On March 19, 1949 the wreck of the RNZAF Ventura aeroplane with four crew members on-board was discovered; w...

Creator:      Elmar Studios, 459 Main Street, Palmerston North
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          March 25, 1949

The Palmerston North Brass Band was established in 1881. This was the group who entered the Masterton Brass Band Contest of 1903.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1903

This group, photographed upstairs at the Palace Theatre, played at both the Kosy and Palace Theatres. From left. Back: C Fleming; O D Huse; W Carbine; A Berryman. Front: CE Bell; Miss S Hancock; G Raffles. Walter Leet later replaced C Fleming on ...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          August 1919

The Commandos Orchestra played at the Army, Navy and Airforce Dance Hall in George Street. They originally began as ‘The Revellers’ and ended as 'The Commanders'. Pictured are Peter Jordan (on piano), Norman Jordan (bass), Alan Jordan (drums) Atha...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1946

The building being erected is Richard Leary's Chemist shop. Also visible is (from left): another pharmacy (the face of the building reads, "Chemist and Druggist"); J P Leary's Printshop; William Bentley, drapery; William Park's Bookseller and J Li...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1890

The Virginia Military Institute Brass Ensemble performed in The Square, during a tour of New Zealand. The ensemble consisted of six college cadets who performed with trumpets, trombone, French horn and tuba. In their third year of study, they were...

Creator:      Lesley Courtney, for the Ian Matheson City Archives
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          January 5, 2019

The Virginia Military Institute Brass Ensemble performed in The Square, during a tour of New Zealand. The ensemble consisted of six college cadets who performed with trumpets, trombone, French horn and tuba. In their third year of study, they were...

Creator:      Lesley Courtney, for the Ian Matheson City Archives
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          January 5, 2019

Palmerston North Orchestral Society, 1909.

From left. Back row: Frank Woolhouse, Bill Martin, William Procter, Jimmy Blake, Meyrick, Alf Tonkin, Charlie Pike, Fred Piper, Jim Harwood, Johnny Jones.

3rd Row: Ben Holben, Whittington, Arthur Koehl...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1909

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. A large variety of subjects are depicted in the collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent theme...

Creator:      William James Young
Date:          1900 to 1932

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. A large variety of subjects are depicted in the collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent theme...

Creator:      William James Young
Date:          1900 to 1932

Drawing room of Waimarama, 46 Alfred Street, Palmerston North in the 1920's or 30's.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1930

The Salvation Army Band outside the Citadel in Broadway. They established themselves in Palmerston North in 1884.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1930

The band led the old boys of Palmerston North Boys' High School on a parade through the city at the beginning of the school’s 75th anniversary celebrations.

Creator:      H E Chamberlain
Date:          June 3, 1977

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. A large variety of subjects are depicted in the collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent themes. The exact location of the photographs in the...

Creator:      William James Young
Date:          1900 to 1932