Palmerston North

When the Borough came into Existence in 1877,Palmerston North was an isolated village,set in the midst of a native forest which covered inland Manawatu.The population of the town was approx 800 people and sawmilling was the main industry of the district.As the forest around Palmerston north was cleared and farms were established,the borough grew in prosperity,by 1885 the coucil was brave enough to raise a public works loan of £50,000 and used this money to provide a public water supply(1889) a primitive sewage disposal system(1890) and further improvments to streets and stormwater drainage.By 1902 The population reached 7000 in 1921 An electric power station was also erected in 1924 Generated sufficient electricity to meet the needs of the borough for some years. On the site of the old Railway station stands  Civic Buildings- Art Gallery The glbe theature The fire Station still retaining green open space.Manawatu sports stadium was developed in 1981 and grandstand in 1986.