The “Outsville” was the trade-in furniture section of Maple Furnishings Co at 179 Church Street, next to the Opera House (partially seen to the right). The building was demolished 22 December 1970. Originally 2 shops, the shop on the right was ini...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Church Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1960

William Park established his book seller, stationer and newsagent business in Palmerston North in 1878. This is his second premises, built 1884, in The Square. William Park is standing second from right.

Creator:      George W Shailer
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1880 to circa 1899

In 1902 the firm of Millar and Giorgi was established by Maurice Millar and Arthur Giorgi. It was the first store to specialise exclusively in men's and boy's wear. It closed c1987.

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

The Nonpareil Cycle and Motor Company was originally established in Ghuznee Street, Wellington. In November 1906 this company bought out the Palmerston North firm of Clarkson and Co. in order to establish its headquarters in Palmerston North. Mes...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1906

The business, located at 162-163 The Square (between Rangitikei Street and Broadway Avenue), was founded in 1923 as Watchorn and McNaught, but was soon taken over and operated solely by Mr G Watchorn as Watchhorns Ltd.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          162 The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          1926

Speechley's, Corset and Hosiery Specialists, operated at 415 Main Street, Palmerston North, between c1933 - 1981. Mrs Thelma Speechley, ran the business as a drapery in the 1930s. To the left can be seen the corner of George and Main Streets.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          415 Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1930 to circa 1939

Furniture Services Ltd was located at 124 Rangitikei Street, with Porter Motors Ltd's temporary premises next door. Porter Motors originally traded as Fowler & Porter but separated into two entities in 1935. In 1976 the company opened a new buildi...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          124 Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1953

This building was constructed in 1890 for the 'Manawatu Daily Times', and was occupied by them until 1913. It was Waghorn's decorating shop 1913 - 1939, and then Tingey's “Oil and Colour Merchants” 1939-1979. In 1979 it became Haseldens Hobbies an...

Creator:      E Creamer
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          1981

The proprietor of Joyces Dairy, Mrs Val Murray, stands outside the Palmerston North corner shop.

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Corner of Ferguson and Fitzroy Street, Palmerston North
Date:          September 19, 1981

The Coles building was constructed in 1906 of brick with reinforced concrete, for Henry Coles who had a music shop on the ground floor and leased the rest of the building. Descendants of the Coles family owned the building until c1970 when the Pa...

Creator:      R E Clevely
Place:          Corner of Main Street and The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          March 1974

The Coles building was constructed in 1906 of brick with reinforced concrete, for Henry Coles who had a music shop on the ground floor and leased the rest of the building. Descendants of the Coles family owned the building until c1970 when the Pa...

Creator:      R E Clevely
Place:          Corner of Main Street and The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          March 1974

The “Outsville” was the trade-in furniture section of Maple Furnishings Co, at 179 Church Street, next to the Opera House (partially seen to the right). The building was demolished 22 December 1970, and the business moved to 785 Tremaine Avenue. O...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Church Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1970

J Rawlins was a pastrycook and caterer, and the business was sited between Coleman Mall and Rangitikei Street.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1910

Watchorns Ltd, located at 162-163 The Square, was founded in 1923 as Watchorn and McNaught, but was soon taken over and operated solely by Mr G Watchorn. This view is of the houseware department. The window display features Gillette products. Watc...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          1930 to 1939

Watchorns Ltd, located at 162-163 The Square, was founded in 1923 as Watchorn and McNaught, but was soon taken over and operated solely by Mr G Watchorn. The china is the 'Harvest Poppy' crockery design made in England.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          1920s

The business, located at 162-163 The Square, was founded in 1923 as Watchorn and McNaught, but was soon taken over and operated solely by Mr G Watchorn. The window display advertises Odol toothpaste.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          1920s

The business, located at 162-163 The Square, was founded in 1923 as Watchorn and McNaught, but was soon taken over and operated solely by Mr G Watchorn as Watchorn's Ltd. This photograph shows window displays advertising a sale.

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1970 to circa 1999

This building was Mr Park's first bookshop and was purchased by him in 1882. It stood between Church Street west and Main Street west. In 1884, Mr Park built larger premises alongside this building, which he occupied until c.1917.

Creator:      George W Shailer [?]
Place:          Between Church and Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1883

This two-storey shop was situated in Main Street east, between the The Square and Princess Street, and was run by Fitzsimons & Cowling, who went out of business during the depression years. The building was later occupied by Manawatu Furnishers, b...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1928

This negative comes from the Elmar Collection - a large series of semi-identified and unidentified images from the 1930s-1970s. 

Creator:      Elmar Studios, 459 Main Street, Palmerston North
Place:          Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North
Date:          March 28, 1967

Shown here is the upstairs show room of Fitzsimons & Cowling situated in Main Street east, between The Square and Princess Street. Fitzsimons & Cowling went out of business during the depression years. Bill Cowing is in the background wearing a bl...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1928

Edward Whitehead, a Feilding farmer, established the 'Bible and Tract Depot' in Main Street, Palmerston North in 1900, so he could expand his business of printing Christian and leaflets and handbills. The windmill to the left drove the large press...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1902 to circa 1914

The Hospital Cake Shop at 79 Ruahine Street, La Patrice Ladies Apparel and Haberdashery at 81 Ruahine Street and the Ruahine Butchery stood on the corner of Ruahine and Terrace Streets, near the Palmerston North Hospital.

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          79 Ruahine Street, Roslyn, Palmerston North
Date:          1974

Flower Shop is located on the corner of Albert and Featherston Streets, and has operated out this building since 1985. they also have a shop at the Hokowhitu roundabout, Palmerston North. They sell a large variety of fresh cut flowers, bouquets, f...

Creator:      Ian Matheson
Place:          424 Featherston Street, Palmerston North
Date:          July 21, 1998

The Tiritea Dairy is a typical suburban 'corner shop', on the corner of Albert and Featherston streets. (Still operating in 2018)

Creator:      Ian Matheson
Place:          418 Featherston Street, Palmerston North
Date:          June 21, 1998

This Cuba Street building stood next to the National Bank on the corner of Rangitikei and Cuba Streets. Upstairs: Reginald Thorrold-Jaggard, registered architect, premises 1931 – 1941 before relocating to 20 Grey Street. Downstairs: London Book C...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Cuba Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1938

This photograh shows the Russell Street Dairy located near St Johns Avenue. In 1936 the shop was run by Mrs Jean Benton. Miss Mabel Keys took over the shop c1946. By 1955 it was a general store. During the 1990s it remained as a dairy with a smal...

Creator:      Ian Matheson
Place:          Russell Street, Palmerston North
Date:          June 21, 1998

The former Manawatu Daily Times building being converted for use by the Hopwood Hardware Co. The building connected through to their premises in Main Street East. Hopwood Hardware Co. was established in 1898 by Messrs Beale and Bros and traded for...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North
Date:          March 24, 1962

Broadway Chambers was built in 1936. it has since been renovated and remains as retail outlets. Berrymans was built for A.J. Berryman of Palmerston Northc 1932, initially as a music shop business which later expanded into sports equipment. Berryma...

Creator:      Matt Ryan
Place:          Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North
Date:          1988

The Coles building was constructed in 1906 of brick with reinforced concrete, for Henry Coles who had a music shop on the ground floor and leased the rest of the building. Descendants of the Coles family owned the building until c1970 when the Pa...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          May 1974