Hamilton West Town Belt

Hamilton West town belt 1912 HCL_07049

This is a view we cannot get nowadays except from a hedge-hopping aeroplane. This is from the top of the Frankton water tower which was opened in winter 1913 and demolished in 1966. It became a favourite perch for photographers giving wonderful views like this across Ward Street.

At the bottom edge of the image is the roof of Maunder’s house which was built about 1911. The road going up the hill had no name at the stage – now Tainui Street it was then called ‘Maunder’s Hill.’ The Hamilton High School in the centre was bult in 1910 and beyond that the Hamilton Horse Bazaar and the saleyards were completed in 1907. The railway station is to the left of the cluster of white buildings. Hamilton was growing apace in those heady days – just as today mostly to the north.

Contributed by Perry Rice, Whakaputu/Special Collections Librarian, Hamilton Central Library. If you have any information you would like to pass on or would like to buy an electronic copy of the photo, please e-mail heritage@hcc.govt.nz quoting: HCL_07049