1960s

A midsummer festival named “Carnival of the Lake” was held on the Hokowhitu Lagoon at Centennial Drive, Palmerston North, January 17th – 20th 1964. A variety of activities ensured the public were well entertained during the four day festival. Here, three Navy divers, from a party of five, tested equipment as part of their display at Centennial Lake [Hokowhitu Lagoon]. They were all members of the Royal New Zealand Navy Diving School based at HMNZS Philomel. The Carnival of the Lake was organised by the Palmerston North Public Relations Organisation and held over Anniversary Weekend in 1963 and 1964.

The Carnival of the Lake took place at Hokowhitu Lagoon during Anniversary Weekend 1963. Events included a pet parade, children's competitions, Highland dancing, and a boating and canoeing regatta. Some other highlights were decorated gondolas, an elephant race and performances by the stuntman Indana who demonstrated firewalking and escaped from a straitjacket while suspended upside down from a crane.

The clock in the Clock Tower, named Kerei Te Panau after a local Rangitane chieftain, was originally housed in the Chief Post Office of Palmerston North. Due to safety concerns both the tower and clock were removed from the Post Office after the 1942 Wairarapa earthquake, and the clock placed in storage. In 1953 Arthur Hopwood gifted the city of Palmerston North £10,000 to build a new tower in The Square to hold the clock and chimes. It was completed in 1957. The Clock Tower has experienced a number of changes including the removal of the original sound shell at the base of the tower in the early 1990s and the addition of a cross (both features are visible in this image). During 2007 the Clock Tower was refurbished and it is now topped with a lantern style cross.

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

Staff at Selwyn Motor Ltd behind the shop counter. Selwyn Motors Ltd were Ford motor dealers in Cuba Street and Rangitikei Street.

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

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

The mobile library is seen here parked outside the Co-op on the corner of Main Street east and Upham Terrace. A mobile Library service began in Palmerston North 22 May 1967, in a 20 foot caravan towed by a Bedford van. It was first put into service to gauge the public’s response for such a service, and its initial route covered Hokowhitu, Manawatu Street, West End, Highbury, Milson and Terrace End. The caravan served as the Mobile Library until replaced by a 9 metre bus in 1973.

A view of the main building of the Palmerston North Railway Station.

Tony Evans photographed on holiday with his Morris Minor car at Kaiti Hill, Gisborne. Tony was born in Palmerston North and has lived in the city all his life.

Mrs. Biggs was formally Karen Elizabeth Hansen, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hansen. This photograph is one of a series showing the wedding portraits of four generations of the Christensen family of Manawatu. The other photographs in the series are of Mr. and Mrs. Jens Christensen (1876), Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Cutler (1906), and Mr. and Mrs. P. Hansen (1943).

A display in the window of Milne & Choyce department store featuring mannequins wearing Bri Nylon underwear and nightwear. Allan Smith designed this display while employed by Milne Choyce. He was first employed by the C M Ross department store in 1959, which was then bought out by Milne and Choyce. He rose to become Display Manager.

The Carnival of the Lake took place at Hokowhitu Lagoon in 1964. Events included a pet parade, Highland dancing, a demonstration from the Manawatu Kayak Club and a jousting contest. Some other highlights were the final of the Miss Manawatu Competition, the variety concert staged on a floating ship and the "Leap of Death" made by Clive Lohta from the Centennial Bridge into a fire lit on the lagoon. Some 2000 people came to watch the festivities over the 4-day period.

From the inside cover: "The Lido is a centre designed for family fun. From Toddlers' Pool to Olympic Pool the Lido has an abundance of facilities with everything from swimming, picnicing to barbeque areas. The Lido is certainly designed for family enjoyment." Includes a foreword from G M Rennie, Palmerston North Mayor at time of publication. The Lido swimming pool is situated on 10 acres of land previously owned by the old Awatapu Golf Club. The pool was planned in 1964, building got under was 23 January 1965 and was officially opened 15 November 1966. The Lido consists of indoor and outdoor pools.

Advertising for Helena Rubenstein Beauty Schools, held in the PDC tearooms. The original Premier Drapery Company building was owned by Watchorn & Co and then W F Durward until it was reorganised into the PDC in 1915 when bought by James Wallace. In 1956 the company was taken over by the Manawatu Co-Op Society and renamed the Premier Department Store. The PDC was demolished in 1990 to make way for the Plaza Mall and ceased to exist.

A view of the entrance to the Lido Swimming Complex, Palmerston North. Situated on Park Street, this is still a popular swimming spot for the people of Palmerston North. The pool was planned in 1964, building got under was 23 January 1965 and was officially opened 15 November 1966.

A view of the entrace to the Palmerston North Railway Station.

From left: Watson Brothers Ltd, Lamphouse Television, Joe and Joe Fruiterers, Paddy Bros Ltd, Millar and Giorgi, Barrett's Coffee House, Maple Furniture, Club Hotel and the PDC.

This colour negative shows the Victoria Esplanade playground as it once was, complete with a rocket ship hide out (with children inside) and see-saws.

Allan Smith designed this window display while employed by Milne Choyce. He was first employed by the C M Ross department store in 1959, which was then bought out by Milne and Choyce. He rose to become Display Manager.

The Square is shown here on a sunny day. The Hopwood Clock Tower was refurbished and it is now topped with a lantern style cross.

Allan Smith designed this window display while employed by Milne Choyce. He was first employed by the C M Ross department store in 1959, which was then bought out by Milne and Choyce. He rose to become Display Manager.

Commercially sponsored gondolas on Hokowhitu Lagoon during the “Carnival of the Lake’ festival. The Carnival of The Lake, centred around Hokowhitu Lagoon, was an annual event organised by the Public Relations Office for a few years in the early 1960s.

This photograph shows a replica of the United States Apollo landing craft on display on the corner of Fitzherbert and Church Street near The Square.

A view of the outdoor swimming pool at the Lido Swimming Complex, Palmerston North. Situated on Park Street, this is still a popular swimming spot for the people of Palmerston North. The pool was planned in 1964, building got under was 23 January 1965 and was officially opened 15 November 1966.