Transport and Places

I o Tatau Hapori : The Voice and the People of Our Neighbourhood This playlist supports an exhibition on display for August 2023 at the Franklin Hub. In this track we hear stories of transport and places. 0”45 – 3”45 Sometimes it’s great to have places identified from old photos in oral history and sound recordings. In this interview we can hear the school playground in the background. Mr Bilkey and Pollock share early recollections of the shops on the main street of Pukekohe – this was recorded in 1961. 3”45 – 4”45 Recorded in 1961 as part of the Pukekohe Jubilee Celebration, Bridget Kennelly recalls what the streets were like prior to footpaths and needing to take a clean pair of shoes to go to Auckland. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections OH-1471-004 4”45 – 7”00 Imagine a day before the motor car….in this recording from the 1961 Jubilee celebration project we hear from Mr James Pollock, born in 1875, describe the first motor car coming to Pukekohe and how they scared the horses! Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections OH-1471-009 7”00 – 8”14 Len Brown born in 1889 joined the fire brigade in 1912. In this clip he recalls the process and vote for funding the building of a Fire Station that in 1961 still stood next to what was the Borough Council Chambers. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections OH-1471-011 8”14 – 11”40 In 2005, Bruce Ringer interview Tony Waters about his recollections of Pukekohe and Waiuku. In this clip he recalls some of the places in town and some of the social history influences of the time like six o’clock closing, horse and carts, petrol restrictions during the war and owning a motor car. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections MNP-OH-19 Image: King Street, Pukekohe, c1965. National Publicity Studios. Looking eastward along King Street, Pukekohe, with shopfronts and cars visible. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 895-A76180