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News from the Archives

Pataka Ipurangi
is here!

Pataka 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.

Pataka 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.

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

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.

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

Bm7 c1905.jpg
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.

		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.

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.
8 jan 2005 MES.jpg
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

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.

Find out about where and who we are

Visitors to the Archives:

Igniting the passion for Archives 2008 As As part of Records and Archives Week, Library staff were invited down for a hands-on experience with many of our treasures. This generated awareness and great interest.
Library staff enjoying the treasures of the Archives 2008

Our Holdings:

Palmerson North City Council Archives 1872 - present

We offer:

Minute and report books
Correspondence and subject files
Rate books
Maps, plans, and more

PNCC Archival records

Community Archives 1850s-present

Records of:

Organisations
Businesses
Individuals and their families

PKF passport, WWI

Research files

Collated material on local interest topics

Archives Search

'Archives Search' allows you to search our Community Archive and Research file holdings from home. Please note the Archive name, series and/or file number and visit us to access, or contact us for the information held.

Our collection also complements and supports: