The distinctive concertina façade, the floating roof and giant Christmas decorations. This Bernard Woods Studio photograph of the Farmers Co-Op building on Devon Street East, taken in 1965, is incredibly evocative for many people who frequented the building in its heyday. Puke Ariki visitor Val West explains her memories of the Farmers Co-Op: “I started work at the Farmers Co-Op in 1969, working in the ‘Fancy Department’. My now husband, Allan, worked as the electrician. Before the top floor was added, people would gather on the top for lunch or just to enjoy the view of New Plymouth from high. Each year the circus would set up on the roof. The exciting part was when the elephant was walked up the stairs, causing the building to shake.” Recent renovations have removed the concertina façade, making this image an even more poignant reminder of the building’s glory days.
Search the Puke Ariki Heritage Collection
LinkPlease do not reproduce these images without permission from Puke Ariki.
Contact us for more information or you can order images online here.
The information on this website is provided for general research and reference only. While we try to keep content accurate and current, we make no guarantees about its completeness or correctness. It should not be considered a replacement for a LIM or a Property Report. Some content is supplied by third parties. Puke Ariki has not verified this content and users should check its accuracy before relying on it.The inclusion of a building on the website does not imply heritage status. See SCHED1 in the NPDC District Plan for a list of buildings that have rules about what can happen to or around them (administered by NPDC). See the New Zealand Heritage List for a list of buildings that are celebrated for their heritage significance but are not subject to rules (administered by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga). Should any corrections need to be made to the records or for more information please contact us.
