Early Hamilton in postcards
A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa
A selection of postcards which provide a social history of early Hamilton from the late 19th Century onwards.
Hamilton, postcards, tourism, post, postal, Waikato River, Hamilton Lake, Lake Rotoroa, History
Moments in Hamilton's history have been captured through postcards, which locals and visitors have sent to friends and family in NZ and overseas since the late 19th Century. Interesting is seeing what scenes the photographers have chosen as a souvenir for others to receive and cherish with the sender's words. The postcards' images also provide a social history of Hamilton - transport, civic buildings, churches, housing and recreation - and illustrate the changing natural landscape around the Waikato River and Hamilton's Lake Rotoroa.
ALL ABOARD FOR A POSTCARD TOUR OF HAMILTON!
By carriage (1909)
Postcard of Public Library, Hamilton *Created by Muir & Moodie studio)
Hamilton City Libraries
By train (c.1918)
Frankton Junction railway station (Tourist Series 94).
Hamilton City Libraries
BridGes over WAIKATO RIVER joining EAST & WEST HAMILTON
"Railway Bridge Hamilton" (1910)
Postcard issued by Hamilton Novelty Depot postmarked 12 Nov 1910.
Hamilton City Libraries
"Hamilton, Waikato River & Railway Bridge"
A Tourist Series 100 postcard published by Frank Duncan & Co. Auckland.
University of Waikato
"Waikato River & Traffic Bridge, N.Z."
Postcard numbered. 5324.
University of Waikato
"Fairfield Bridge, Hamilton, N.Z."
Postcard numbered 5805
Hamilton City Libraries
WAIKATO RIVER SCENES
Waikato River, Hamilton
University of Waikato
Waikato River, Hamilton
University of Waikato
Waikato River. Hamilton
University of Waikato
Waikato River at Hamilton, N.Z.
University of Waikato
Waikato River at Hamilton, N.Z.
University of Waikato
Waikato River. Hamilton
University of Waikato
HAMILTON EAST
Grey Street, Hamilton East and the Railway Bridge
(Printed in Saxony, date unknown/)
University of Waikato
"Grey Street, Hamilton East" (1911)
Published by Cartwright Photo, Hamilton,
University of Waikato
"St Andrews Presbyterian Church. Hamilton N.Z." (1912)
University of Waikato
"St Mary's Cathedral [old] and Presbytery, Grey St, Hamilton"
University of Waikato
"Anzac Park, Hamilton, N.Z."
Postcard was numbered 5321.
University of Waikato
Soldier's Memorial Park (c.1930)
Soldier's Memorial Park between the Waikato River and Memorial Drive.
Hamilton City Libraries
"Dairy cattle, Waikato" (1960s)
Printed by Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. for the Felicity Card Co. Ltd.
Alexander Turnbull Library
HAMILTON WEST
"Victoria Street, Hamilton" (1908)
Photograph taken by Gaze and Company, No 274 A.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Hamilton Horse Bazaar (c.1909)
Hamilton City Libraries
Hamilton Horse Bazaar (c.1914)
Horse Bazaar in Hamilton on Ward Street.
Hamilton City Libraries
"Church of England, Hamilton" (1910)
Published by Hamilton Novelty Depot.
University of Waikato
St Peter's Anglican Church (1918)
St Peter's was designated a cathedral in 1926, some ten years after construction.
Hamilton City Libraries
Hamilton Post Office (c.1920)
Hamilton Post Office was opened on 5 August 1901.
Hamilton City Libraries
"Anglican Cathedral, Hamilton, N.Z."
Postcard numbered 5326.
University of Waikato
"Courthouse, Hamilton"
Photo by Gaze & Co (Printed on postcard: New Court House, Hamilton. F. T. Series No. 276.A.)
Alexander Turnbull Library
"Main St. Hamilton from Bank of N.Z. corner"
Published by Hamilton Novelty Depot.
University of Waikato
"Westcourt" Private hotel, Hamilton N.Z."
Phototyped in Saxony.
University of Waikato
"Waikato Hospital, Hamilton. Nurses Home, NZ"
Published by Cartwright Photo, Hamilton, N.Z.
University of Waikato
Hamilton's Lake Rotoroa
Eventide. Hamilton Lake.
University of Waikato
Hamilton Lake, Hamilton N.Z.
University of Waikato
Children swimming in Hamilton Lake, Hamilton
Alexander Turnbull Library
Hamilton Lake, N.Z.
University of Waikato
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF POSTCARDS
Many of the early postcards made of NZ were printed to order by firms in Europe. The majority of Muir & Moodie’s postcards, for example, were printed in Saxony using a photomechanical process know as the collotype.
New Zealand Postcard Society.
National Library of New Zealand
Early New Zealand photographers and their successors.
National Library of New Zealand
Additional websites:
- Wellington City Libraries: Postcards
- Ellott, G.J. (1914) Postcards: A short history, 1869-1918
Books:
- Main, W. & Jackson, A. (2005) 'Wish you were here": the story of New Zealand postcards. (Wakefield, N.Z.: New Zealand Postcard Society)