PUBLIC CONVENIENCES

A DigitalNZ Story by alishist

Public Conveniences - often overlooked structures that are evidence of changing social and architectural and aesthetic approaches to their design, construction and visibility.

Conveniences, toilets, sanitation, comfort stations, restrooms, urinals, water closets, loos, lavatories

Image: Underground Toilets, Octagon, 1910

Underground Toilets, Octagon, 1910

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Public toilets, Beresford Street, Auckland Central, 1948

Public toilets, Beresford Street, Auckland Central, 1948

Auckland Libraries

Image: Custom House Square Drainage Plan 1911

Custom House Square Drainage Plan 1911

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Octagon Comfort Station - Women's Entrance 1919

Octagon Comfort Station - Women's Entrance 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Octagon Comfort Station - Gentleman's Entrance

Octagon Comfort Station - Gentleman's Entrance

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Custom House Square (now the Exchange) Comfort Station, 1919

Custom House Square (now the Exchange) Comfort Station, 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Comfort House Square (now the Exchange) Comfort Station, 1919

Comfort House Square (now the Exchange) Comfort Station, 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: London Street Comfort Station 1919

London Street Comfort Station 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: London Street Comfort Station 1919

London Street Comfort Station 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Newspaper

CITY CONVENIENCES. (Evening Post, 21 August 1909)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Underground Conveniences, Cathedral Square, (Ch.Ch.) C. Dawe, Architect. John Porter, Contractor. Floor Plan above. Ceiling Plan below. (Progress, 01 October 1908)

Underground Conveniences, Cathedral Square, (Ch.Ch.) C. Dawe, Architect. John Porter, Contractor. Floor Plan above. Ceiling Plan below. (Progress...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: CITY COUNCIL (Otago Daily Times 6-10-1910)

CITY COUNCIL (Otago Daily Times 6-10-1910)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

WHY NOT FOR WOMEN TOO? (NZ Truth, 22 September 1906)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

A CARRIER'S GRIEVANCE. (NZ Truth, 08 May 1909)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: MUNICIPAL REFORM. (Otago Daily Times 27-8-1909)

MUNICIPAL REFORM. (Otago Daily Times 27-8-1909)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

STREET BRAWL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 31 December 1909)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: CITY COUNCIL REPORTS (Otago Daily Times 4-10-1909)

CITY COUNCIL REPORTS (Otago Daily Times 4-10-1909)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: THE REQUIREMENTS OF DUNEDIN. (Otago Daily Times 3-4-1909)

THE REQUIREMENTS OF DUNEDIN. (Otago Daily Times 3-4-1909)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

CRAZY COUNCILLORS. (NZ Truth, 21 July 1906)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Government Buildings, Customs Street, Auckland, decorated for the 1919 peace celebrations

Government Buildings, Customs Street, Auckland, decorated for the 1919 peace celebrations

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Octagon Comfort Station - Women's Entrance 1919

Octagon Comfort Station - Women's Entrance 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Public conveniences

Public conveniences

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Public conveniences

Public conveniences

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Public toilets, Newton Road, 1958

Public toilets, Newton Road, 1958

Auckland Libraries

Image: Public toilets, Newton Road, 1958

Public toilets, Newton Road, 1958

Auckland Libraries

Image: Borough of New Plymouth Plan of Proposed Public Conveniences to be Erected in Brougham Street [plan]

Borough of New Plymouth Plan of Proposed Public Conveniences to be Erected in Brougham Street [plan]

Puke Ariki

Image: King Edward Street Station at corner of Bowen Street, 1919

King Edward Street Station at corner of Bowen Street, 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: London Street Underground Comfort Station, 1919

London Street Underground Comfort Station, 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Manor Place Station by Market Reserve, 1919

Manor Place Station by Market Reserve, 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Manor Place Public Urinal plans, 1912

Manor Place Public Urinal plans, 1912

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Evening Post" Photo. The new rest rooms, for both sexes, in Clyde quay square, were made available this morning. The building, in concrete, with copper domes at either end, is of pleasing design, and is fitted in accord with modern standards for public conveniences and rest rooms. A garden plot is to be laid out at the northern end of.the building, where work is now proceeding, as seen in the photograph. Sheltered seating is provided on either side of the building, and four telephone boxes are to be installed. (Evening Post, 12 July 1929)

Evening Post" Photo. The new rest rooms, for both sexes, in Clyde quay square, were made available this morning. The building, in concrete, with co...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Safix toilet paper

Safix toilet paper

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Posters on public toilets, Beresford Street, 1950

Posters on public toilets, Beresford Street, 1950

Auckland Libraries

Image: Bus Shelter and toilets, Symonds Street, Auckland Central, 2010

Bus Shelter and toilets, Symonds Street, Auckland Central, 2010

Auckland Libraries

Image: World Toilet Day

World Toilet Day

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Botanic Gardens Entrance with new Public Toilets 1968

Botanic Gardens Entrance with new Public Toilets 1968

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Botanic Gardens Entrance with new Public Toilets 1968

Botanic Gardens Entrance with new Public Toilets 1968

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Bus shelter and public toilets in Symonds Street, Auckland Central, 1986

Bus shelter and public toilets in Symonds Street, Auckland Central, 1986

Auckland Libraries

Image: Kent and Cambridge Terraces, Wellington, including 'Taj Mahal' toilets, Duncans Corner, Jones Metal Company Limited, Hotel Selwyn, Firestone, Old Post Office, site of trolley bus terminus for Karori and Wadestown, and Wellington Harbour

Kent and Cambridge Terraces, Wellington, including 'Taj Mahal' toilets, Duncans Corner, Jones Metal Company Limited, Hotel Selwyn, Firestone, Old P...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: King Edward Street Comfort Station 1919

King Edward Street Comfort Station 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Manor Place Comfort Station 1919

Manor Place Comfort Station 1919

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Town Clerk's Correspondence 1912 Manor Place Convenience 5

Town Clerk's Correspondence 1912 Manor Place Convenience 5

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Manor Place Convenience Tender 1912

Manor Place Convenience Tender 1912

Dunedin City Council Archives

Image: Courtenay Place, Wellington, taken from Taranaki Street

Courtenay Place, Wellington, taken from Taranaki Street

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Courtenay Place looking towards Taranaki Street

Courtenay Place looking towards Taranaki Street

Alexander Turnbull Library