First Passenger train arrives at new Palmerston North Railway Station on Tremaine Avenue

1960s

First woman and first Maori City Councillors, TV comes to New Zealand, the railway station opens on Tremaine Avenue and Massey University becomes autonomous. A Maori Battalion Hall is opened and lots of changes to the city library.

1960		William Henry Brown elected as MP for Palmerston North
		The first television transmissions in New Zealand begin in Auckland
	19-May	Palmerston North University College officially opens in Centennial Drive, Hokowhitu (a branch of Victoria University of Wellington), with a particular focus on extramural studies
1961		Population 41014
1961	1-Apr	City boundary extended to include 248 acres in Highbury
1962		Awatapu Special School opens (formerly Palmerston North Occupational Centre, the Awapuni IHC School)
1962	13-Oct	Election of first woman and first Maori City Councillors, Julia Wallace (Girl's High School Principal) and Sam Mihaere
1963		The Vogue closes (cinema)
	1-Jan	Massey University College of Manawatu formed by the amalgamation of the Massey Agricultural College with the Palmerston North University College, with a strong extramural component
	20-Apr	The Times newspaper closes, this was the morning daily newspaper in Palmerston North
	21-Oct	Railway Station off Tremaine Avenue officially opened and passenger services on the Milson railway deviation commence
	9-Dec	Government announces that the Railway Land in Main Street is to be transferred to the City Council in exchange for land at Kelvin Grove
1964		The Meteor closes (cinema)
		The three old artesian bores in the City are closed off; a new bore is sunk at Papioea Park on Featherston Street
	1-Jan	Massey University becomes fully autonomous and able to award its own degrees
	1-Jun	Last passenger train (a 'special') passes through The Square, the last goods train passed through on the 6th or 7th of June
	27-Jun	Maori Battalion Hall in Cuba Street officially opened
	27-Oct	City Council announces its proposed Transportation Plan to manage traffic in the City
1965		An artesian bore is sunk at Takaro Park on Botanical Road to supplement the water supply
		The Odeon cinema opens - formerly the Mayfair
	26-Apr	Transportation Plan amended with the addition of a 4 lane road ("eastern distributor") through Hokowhitu
	4-Nov	Public Library building on the corner of The Square and Main Street East opened by Governor General Sir Bernard Fergusson
1966		Population 46,832
		One way traffic flow around The Square instituted, this proves to be very unpopular with residents
		Manawatu Mills builds new premises in Tremaine Avenue
	21-Mar	City Council abandons the proposed "eastern distributor" highway as a result of public opposition
	21-May	The Manawatu Standard newspaper introduces 'front page news'
	28-May	Ratepayers approve a loan of £90,000 to build student accommodation at Massey University
	15-Oct	Lido Swimming Complex in Park Road officially opened
1967		Joseph Albert Walding elected as MP for Palmerston North
	May	All but one of the Public Library branches are closed and a mobile service is launched
	10-Jul	Decimal currency introduced in New Zealand
	1-Sep	City boundaries extended to include 3440 acres in Aokautere, Kelvin Grove, Milson, Amberley and Awapuni, this extension was designed to accommodate urban growth for the next 25 years
1968		Desmond Barry Black elected Mayor
1968	22-Jun	Sewerage Treatment Plant in Totara Road officially opened
1969	24-Mar	Revised Transportation Plan adopted by the City Council and based on advice from Professor W R Blunden a traffic engineering expert from New South Wales
	17-Jun	Proposals for Central City development of the Railway Land announced (prepared by a planning consultant from Auckland, Mr Ian Reynolds)
	5-Dec	Clockwork Orange a discotheque opens as entertainment for young people, the opening night is marred by drunken teenage violence blamed on alcohol smuggled into the venue

Disclaimer

Most dates are taken from tertiary sources and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Researchers are strongly advised to check specific dates in other sources to confirm accuracy to their own satisfaction. All corrections or additional information and dates gratefully considered - please contact the Ian Matheson City Archives.