Photo of the new bus terminus that was opened on Monday 10th January 1977

The new bus terminus that was opened on Monday 10th January 1977

1970s

Centennial Celebrations; the population reaches 50,000 and another royal visit

1970  
  • William Henry Brown elected as MP for Palmerston North
 
  • The Clockwork Orange discotheque closes for financial reasons after seven months operation
 
  • One Way traffic flow around The Square abandoned
20-May
  • Monro Memorial opens at Massey University to honour the man who introduced rugby union to New Zealand and a prominent early settler in Palmerston North
26-Jun
  • Natural gas is first piped into Palmerston North from Taranaki
30-Aug
  • Palmerston North's 12 months of Centennial Celebrations commenced
1971  
  • Population 51,893
 
  • Brian George Conway Elwood elected Mayor
 
  • Centenary of Industry and Commerce held – part of City's Centenary Celebrations
27-Apr
  • Architectural competition to design new Civic complex for the old railway land won by Wellington architects Maurice and John Patience
1972 August
  • YWCA closes its hostel due to overwhelming maintenance requirements
27-Nov
  • City Council resolves to build new civic complex
1973 15-Jun
  • Part of Bulls bridge collapses into Rangitikei River
1974  
  • Work commences on the Civic Centre
 
  • St. Joseph's Convent High School closes
 
  • St. Patrick's Parish School closes
 
  • Marist Brothers High School closes (Catholic)
22-Jan
  • Centrepoint Theatre holds first production (City's first professional theatre company
18-Aug
  • St Peter's College officially opens – a new Catholic secondary school
13-Dec
  • Approval given to construct a $1.3m Fire Station in Cook Street
1975  
  • Atawhai childcare centre set up by the YWCA for the children of families under stress
 
  • Two 4500m 3 low level water supply storage tanks are built 3km downstream from the water treatment plant
26-May
  • City Council and Feilding Borough Council agree to establish a joint forestry venture in Scott's Road (Gordon Kear Forest)
8-Jun
  • Museum officially opens in Church Street
November
  • Work starts on Post Office telephone exchange (Telecom Tower) on Main Street
1976  
  • Manawatu side wins Ranfurly Shield from Auckland
29-30 June
  • Flooding of the Manawatu and Oroua rivers requires evacuation of some Palmerston North and Feilding residents, 24 hour rainfall records in Feilding and Palmerston North are exceeded
1-Dec
  • Awatapu College officially opens (fifth secondary school for City)
1977  
  • Royal visit by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to City
10-Jan
  • Bus Station opens in Church Street for City and rural bus services
15-May
  • Cattle Pavilion at Showgrounds destroyed due to arson
3-Jul
  • Art Gallery officially opens in purpose built building in Main Street
13-Jul
  • Andrews Furnishers premises destroyed due to arson
13-Aug
  • Centennial Celebrations of Palmerston North City Council – 100 years of municipal local government
7-Nov
  • New Zealand Motor Bodies factory in Keith Street officially opens
12-Nov
  • New Fire Station officially opens in Cook Street
1978  
  • Joseph Albert Walding elected as MP for Palmerston North
31-Jul
  • Toyota National Parts Distribution Centre officially opens on Roberts Line
14-Nov
  • National Mutual building officially opens on the corner of The Square and Fitzherbert Avenue – at 10 storeys high it is the tallest building in the City at the time
1979  
  • Sam Mihaere dies having served as a Councillor continuously since his election in 1962
 
  • The Public Library introduces a computerised circulation system
 
  • Milson Airport terminal extensions completed, Airport runway is resealed
18-Dec
  • Special Council meeting held in new Council Chambers to celebrate the completion of the Civic Complex – the new Council building on The Square, sometimes referred to as ‘Elwood's Battleship', marks the completion of the ‘Civic Complex', later Civic Centre', later ‘Civic Administration Building' (CAB)
Disclaimer

Most dates are taken from tertiary sources and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Researchers are strongly advised to check specific dates in other sources to confirm accuracy to their own satisfaction. All corrections or additional information and dates gratefully considered – please contact the Ian Matheson City Archives.

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