Foundation stone from city's former Opera House returns home
Published on 30 October 2025
A piece of Palmerston North’s cultural history has been returned to public view, with the foundation stone from the city’s former Municipal Opera House now installed on the corner of Church and Ashley Streets – the site where the building once stood.
The foundation stone, laid in 1905, was recovered during the building’s demolition in 1996 by G.H Fraser Contracting (later Fraser Contracting), who held it in their warehouse for nearly three decades. The city is fortunate that Gary Fraser, one of the members of the demolition crew, had the foresight to save the foundation stone, along with the ornate plaster cherubs that once decorated the theatre’s ceiling corners.
The idea to reinstall the stone near its original location came from the City Library Heritage Team and Councillor Mark Arnott, who has long championed efforts to preserve remnants of the Opera House. In 2024, Arnott personally delivered the weighty granite to the Ian Matheson City Archives at the City Library, and its return has been a true team effort.
“The Opera House was a special place for generations of Palmerston North residents”, says Councillor Arnott. “Bringing the foundation stone back to its original site is a simple but meaningful way to honour the history and the role it played in our city’s cultural life. I’m proud it will be returned to public view, where people can once again reflect on the special place the Opera House held in our community. The stone will stand as a visible reminder of the performances, gatherings, and memories that helped shape Palmerton North’s artistic identity.”
The installation includes interpretive signage featuring a historic image of the 1905 building and a QR code linking to a curated digital collection on Manawatū Heritage, the Palmerston North City Library’s online archive. The collection features photographs, event programmes, and other records from the Opera House era.
Visit the Manawatū Heritage online collection
“We wanted to give people an opportunity to step back into the past”, says Heather Glasgow, City Archivist. “It’s often hard to visualise how our streets once looked, so this marker helps people reconnect with that shared history. So many residents still remember the Opera House fondly – it was an iconic gathering place for music, theatre and community events.”
Mayor Grant Smith says the project highlights how preserving heritage helps connect the city’s past and present. “The Opera House laid the foundations for Palmerston North’s strong performing arts culture”, he says. “Today, our theatres – from the Regent on Broadway to the Globe, Centrepoint, and the many other community stages - carry that same creative spirit forward. It’s wonderful that this piece of our history now stands once again at the heart of the city.”
Designed by architect FJ. Wilson, the Municipal Opera House opened in 1905 in a grand neoclassical style. With a capacity of over 1,000 people, it was an ambitious project for a town of just 9,000 residents and became a much-loved centre for performance and community life. A major renovation modernised but significantly altered the building’s appearance before it was ultimately demolished in 1996.
Now, nearly 30 years later, its foundation stone once again stands where the Opera House once did – a quiet reminder of Palmerston North’s rich cultural heritage and love of the performing arts.