Archives
News from the Archives
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Pﾄ》aka Ipurangi (meaning 'online storehouse'), our new digital Library, was launched 10 April 2008. This fabulous new resource will make the history of Palmerston North more accessible to those outside the City Library.
Pﾄ》aka Ipurangi contains photographs, maps and aerial photographs, and selected items from our PNCC and Community archive collections. All these images will now be available to view from home. You may use the images freely for personal and study purposes. You will also be able to request permission to use the images for publication or display purposes.
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This digital collection is a growing collection, with new images coming online constantly. However, it will only ever be a selection of the wealth of information we hold, so remember you can use the Archive Search or contact us at any time.
Hidden Treasures of the Archives:
Carl and Anne Anderson - Photograph Album
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Carl Andreas and Anne Anderson emigrated from Norway to New Zealand on the 'Celaeno' in 1871. They initially settled on their allocated 40 acres at Awapuni, but moved to various locations over the years, inlcuding California for a time.
The photograph album, with its beautiful worn velvet cover and imitation metal ornamentation, was donated to the Public Library by family members in 1995.
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The album mainly contains studio portraits of people, taken by various New Zealand photographers between c1848-1907. Of particular interest is the fashion of the time that is exemplified in the photographs.
Current Display at the City Archives:
Palmerston North's Opera House 1905-1996
Photographs and a short history of the Opera House, which once stood just outside The Square on Church Street, is currently on display in the City Archives.
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Remember when every city of note had an Opera House? Palmerston North finally achieved one in 1905, and it was used as the venue for most live productions until its demolition in 1996.
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Mainly due to structural problems, it was severely 'modernised' in the 1950s and the building that was reduced to rubble was but a shell of its former glory.
Complementing the display are two original scripts of 'The Precious Years', which played to a ‘packed Opera House’, 23 and 24 November 1937. Written by Winston Davis and Leslie Verry of Palmerston North, the play was performed during the city’s 60th Jubilee celebrations. The scripts were donated to the Public Library by members of the cast.
More Community Archives of Interest
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Woollams Collection: film of the 75th jubilee celebrations of Palmerston North 1975
John Wallace: School and wartime records, and condolence records on his death in WWII.
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