Waiuku museum is proud to announce that selected items from the collection and archive are now available online at https://archive.org/details/waiuku-museum.
Take a look and see what there is. We will be adding to the collection over time.
Monthly Archives: November 2019
A Brief History – National Bank
In association with the Waiuku Business Association (WBA), Waiuku Museum is doing a series of brief histories about local businesses that were once in our community. The first was published in the Waiuku Wrap on the WBA website. Go and check it out and see what is happening in Waiuku.
https://us20.campaign-archive.com/?e=&u=d30738107e97ae6d0814ede90&id=9dea01f7df
So here is the brief history of the National Bank.
The National Bank opened its branch in Waiuku in August 1910, in rented premises, on the site of the blacksmith’s building on Queen St. Mr Alex. Grigor from Balclutha was appointed as the manager. A new site for the bank was purchased soon after in about 1911. The bank moved this site, the current site of the ANZ Bank, on the corner of Kitchener St and Queen St after it was completed in September 1914. When the bank moved to the new site the manager was Mr Armitage.
The land next to the National Bank remained empty for many years after its construction. Between 1923 and 1925 the Bank of New Zealand was built on that site.
The National Bank remained in Waiuku until it was rebranded as the ANZ Bank after ANZ purchased the National Bank.
This photo is of Queen Street in 1920 featuring the relatively new National Bank Building on the right hand side.
If you would like more information on the National Bank contact Waiuku Museum on their e-mail waiukumuseum@gmail.com
A Brief History – Wallace Supplies Ltd
In association with the Waiuku Business Association (WBA), Waiuku Museum is doing a series of brief histories about local businesses that were once in our community. The first was published in the Waiuku Wrap on the WBA website. Go and check it out and see what is happening in Waiuku.
https://mailchi.mp/71783c46647b/the-waiuku-wbda-online-wrap-first-edition-353391?e=bc146eaa65
So here is the brief history of Wallace Supplies Ltd.
Wallace Supplies Ltd in Waiuku started trading in about 1887, and remained in business till 1962 when Foodstuffs took over and turned it into a self-service supermarket.
During this time it was also called Wallace & Co. general store.
In 1925 Wallace Supplies finished building a “fine commodious premises” in what is now Gary Pye’s.
However disaster struck on 18th April 1927 when three shops in Waiuku burnt down including Wallace Supplies Ltd. The total damage of the fire was estimated at £10,000 (nearly $500,000 today). The majority of this calculated damage was the stock and building of Wallace Supplies Ltd. The store re-opened later that year.
In 1943 Wallace Supplies Ltd was again affected by fire when a neighbouring business O Henry and Company Ltd was destroyed; the fire spread to the roof of the storeroom of Wallace Supplies Ltd and damaged a large amount of stock.
Trading continued, without major incident, until the store was taken over by Foodstuffs.
This picture was taken in 1926 and published as a supplement in the Waiuku News, Tuesday May 4th 1926, as a larger and detailed advertisement for Wallace Supplies Ltd.
If you would like more information on Wallace Supplies contact Waiuku Museum on their e-mail waiukumuseum@gmail.com
Waiuku Museum 