New Plymouth memories 1954

Devon Street in New Plymouth with the clocktower on the right. A pan shot shows buildings on the corner of Devon and Queen Streets. The Regent Theatre is the concrete building with the long sloping roof in shot (repurposed as the Govett Brewster Art Gallery in 1970). The White Hart Hotel can be seen at the start of the pan on the right.

A man (Frederick Burdett Butler) crosses the street and attempts to hide from the camera by shielding his face with his bag.

Another pan shot starts with the E.C Hayton Plumbers building. A Morris Minor car travels up Liardet Street towards Devon Street. The spire of St. Andrew’s Church can be seen in the background.

Construction workers labouring on the Darby and Hannan Ltd. new building.

The corner of Queen and King Streets shows some houses, including a villa next door to the Regent Theatre. General shots of various old, derelict buildings along King Street behind the Theatre.

Two men construct railway tracks for a miniature railway at the corner of Liardet and Gilbert Streets, New Plymouth.

A couple in a vintage car with the name ‘Genevieve’ written on the bonnet, drives along Devon Street. The car was used in the 1953 British comedy film, ‘Genevieve’.

The car pulls to a stop outside the Post Office where a crowd is gathered. The man wearing glasses speaking to them is New Plymouth Mayor, Edward Hill, who rides as a passenger down Devon Street.

The couple continue in ‘Genevieve’ along Devon Street, up Eliot Street, Coronation Avenue and Junction Road, then finally south out of New Plymouth, followed by a procession of local cars.

4:08

Caleb Wyatt