The Victoria Esplanade gardens were opened in 1897. The phoenix palms were first planted along Victoria Drive in the late 1930s, although many of them have since been replaced.

Creator:      Massey University
Place:          Palm Drive, Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 2000

The general layout of Memorial Park, showing the arena, skating rink, padding pool and lake. It was originally named Fitzroy Park, and was formally renamed Memorial Park in 1954.

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Memorial Park, Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1951

Dignitaries stand to attention at the memorial, watched by the crowd attending the unveiling. The obelisk at Fitzroy Park, as it was then called, was unveiled in this ceremony by Major-General Sir Howard Kippenberger. Later, in 1954, the park was ...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Memorial Park, Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          October 19, 1952

The Victoria Esplanade gardens were opened in 1897, in celebration of Queen Victoria's 60th Jubilee.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North
Date:          1957

The Victoria Esplanade gardens were opened in 1897, in the year of Queen Victoria's 60 years on the throne.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North
Date:          1957

A begonia hot house was constructed in Palmerston North's Victoria Esplanade, in 1940 for new Zealand's centennial. It was named the Peter Black Conservatory after the long time curator of Reserves for the Palmerston North Borough Council.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North
Date:          1957

This memorial and reserve behind it commemorates local soldiers who lost their lives during World War Two. The memorial is located on Lawton Road, behind the old school on Milson Line between Feilding and Palmerston North.

The plaque rea...

Creator:      Ben Foster
Place:          Te Arakura
Date:          May 15, 2021

Memorial Park (previously named Fitzroy Park) at Terrace End, was formerly a metal pit used by the Railways Department for ballast, from about 1876-1937. The Palmerston North City Council purchased the 21 acre site in 1938 and developed it into a ...

Creator:      Ian Matheson City Archives
Place:          Memorial Park, Main Street
Date:          November 3, 2020

This park was formerly the site of an old metal pit at Terrace End. It was purchased by the City Council in 1939 and developed into a recreational and sporting area. It was named Memorial Park after the placing of a memorial to honour those kill...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1950

Looking from the corner of Coleman Place to the Cornonation Fountain, built in 1902. Originally it stood in the middle of The Square, but was shifted to accommodate the war memorial in the 1920s. In 2005 it was again shifted, to sit near the Broad...

Creator:      William Frith
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          1955

Looking across The Square from the top of the C M Ross department store (now the Central Library) to the Chief Post Office on the corner of Main Street.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          1939

One of 5 vertical platinum mine shafts in the Kahuterawa Valley dug by Alexander Menesdorffer, circa 1900. The shafts are approximately 5 metres deep, are partially flooded and overgrown with ferns and moss. Each vertical shaft is fenced off from ...

Creator:      Evan Greensides
Place:          Kahuterawa Valley, Palmerston North
Date:          October 23, 2017

Governor General Sir Willoughby Norrie meets local Returned Servicemen at the dedication of Fitzroy Memorial Park. From about 1951 the eastern end of Fitzroy Park was developed as a memorial to those who died in World War Two, and a war memorial w...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Memorial Park, Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          December 3, 1954

New Zealand's Governor General (1920-1924) Lord Jellicoe and Lady Jellicoe walking on Victoria Drive, through the Esplanade Gardens. Lord Jellicoe can be seen holding the horse reins on the left and Lady Jellicoe is in the light coloured outfit an...

Creator:      Phil Toms
Place:          Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North
Date:          November 27, 1920

New Zealand's Governor General (1920-1924) Lord Jellicoe and Lady Jellicoe walk through the bush track at the Victoria Esplanade, alongside other dignitaries. James Nash, Mayor of Palmerston North, can be seen behind, over Lord Jellicoe's right sh...

Creator:      Phil Toms
Place:          Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North
Date:          November 27, 1920

A walkway surrounded by gardens in the Esplanade, near the road. This area was probably originally laid out c1916-20. The Victoria Esplanade Gardens were named after Queen Victoria to celebrate her 60 years on the throne, and opened in 1897.

Creator:      G F Framjee
Place:          Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North

In 1887 the newly formed borough of Palmerston North was granted 361 acres of ground between Park Road and the Manawatu River, by the Government. In 1891 the Palmerston North Reserves Act divided this into four parts including 39 acres along the r...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1920 to circa 1923

The Palmerston North City Council purchased the site of the old railway ballast pit in 1938 and developed it into a recreational and sporting area. A memorial to citizens killed in World War Two (WWII) was erected and in 1954 Fitzroy Park was offi...

Creator:      PNCC
Place:          Memorial Park, Terrace End
Date:          circa 1940

The Victoria Esplanade, named during Queen Victoria’s 60th year on the throne, was opened in 1897. Here we see the first tea kiosk, not long after it was opened in 1909. It was demolished in 1943, and having a cup a tea in the gardens was not on o...

Creator:      H Billens and Co.
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1910

Development began on the Victoria Esplanade, named to mark Queen Victoria's 60th jubilee, in 1897. Cherry blossom trees were first planted in the 1920s, and became a feature of the gardens. Hundreds of people came to view them each year when in bl...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1939

The paved clearing is the Anzac Park parking lot. The square two-storey building in the left side of the image is the golf club clubhouse.

Creator:      Clarice Parlane
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1960s

Development at the gardens began in 1897, and was named after Queen Victoria in her jubilee year. Photograph taken from the book "From swamp to city: Commemorating the Diamond Jubilee of the city", this photograph is entitled: A charming walk thro...

Creator:      Snapshots Unlimited
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1937

Originally a metal pit for New Zealand Railways, this land was purchased by the City Council in 1940 for a park. The eastern end was developed into a cycle track, sports arena and skating rink between 1951 – 1954. In 1954 the park was renamed Memo...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1950

Originally a metal pit for New Zealand Railways, this land was purchased by the City Council in 1940 for a park. The eastern end was developed into a cycle track, sports arena and skating rink between 1951 – 1954. In 1954 the park was renamed Memo...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1950

This photograph looks eastward towards the children’s paddling pool and beyond house. The palms lining the driveway are now very large trees and the path has been paved for use by cars.

Creator:      K H Shea
Place:          Palm Drive, Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North
Date:          1939

Cherry trees were first planted along Victoria Drive in Palmerston North's gardens in the 1920’s. They were a popular attraction and special trains ran from Wellington bringing sight seers. Most of the original trees have since been replaced.

Creator:      Bruce Watt
Place:           Victoria Esplanade Drive, Palmerston North
Date:          1971

This photographs gives a view of Memorial Park, located in the suburb of Terrace End, Palmerston North. Shown here is a view of a walking path and seating adjacent to the lake. This park was formerly the site of an old metal pit at Terrace End. It...

Creator:      The Tribune
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1975

Originally a metal pit for New Zealand Railways, this land was purchased by the City Council in 1940 for a park. The eastern end was developed into a cycle track, sports arena and skating rink between 1951 – 1954. In 1954 the park was renamed Memo...

Creator:      Alex M Crocket
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1950

This photograph shows the site of the Palmerston North Golf Club before it was developed. Fitzroy Street is on the left, running down from Main Street which is across the top of the photograph. On the far right, running down from Napier Td is Brig...

Creator:      Argosy Industrial Photos
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1962

This photograph shows the site of the Palmerston North Golf Club before it was developed. Fitzroy Street runs in form near the mid-point of the right side with East Street running off it, almost parallel to the right edge of the photograph. Ruahin...

Creator:      Argosy Industrial Photos
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1962