The band rotunda of Post Office Square photographed in the early 1900s. Invercargill’s original town square had a new post office( now Quest Hotel) built in its place which caused a lot of disappointment and frustration to many locals at the time and decades later Wachner Place was established in an effort to bring about a town center once again. Wouldn’t it be cool if Wachner Place had been designed with a replica band rotunda like this original town icon?
When Invercargill was a young city it enjoyed a far more aesthetically pleasing town center just back from where today’s quest hotel stands, next to Wachner place. This once glorious monument had other structures built around it and green spaces were compromised until it seemed a burden to keep standing. Today Wachner place mimics what we once had(minus heritage or functionality) with old clock tower equipment still in use. Photo: Old Invercargill
This 1905 photograph captures a former icon of our CBD. The Athenaeum stood proudly to the north side of Invercargills original town square( where Quest Hotel, the former Post Office stands) on the corner of Dee and Esk streets. For reasons out of Invercargills control this town square dynamic was not treasured and respected as an exceptional layout of brilliant craftsmanship, functionality and design. Today the site of this brilliant structure is the south end of Wachner Place. Photo: Hocken collection.
Looking north/east down Dee Street form the west intersection of Esk Street which is now Wachner Place. The date of this photograph is unclear, but the man pushing his penny-farthing could indicate late 1800s. Photo: Te Papa collection
Looking West towards railways down Esk from Dee street. Photo: Old Invercargill
1970. Esk and Dee Street intersection, looking towards the railway station. Now part of Wachner Place. The Menzies building on left. Photo: Fletcher Archives.
An Aerial view showing the main part of Invercargills former layout from when the city greeted the train station. Buildings within the centerpiece of this cbd layout have been pulled down and reorganized over time, Making way for inspiring infrastructure we all know and love such as the Menzies building or Wachner Place. Photo: Old Invercargill
Late night shop-in on Friday night. Note Esk is two way traffic.1984. Photo/scan: oldinvercargill.nz
Dee street heading north, Esk Street West on left after post office. Photo: Old Invercargill
Wachner Place photographed during the 1980’s before this area was slightly upgraded with a contemporary concrete theme. Photo: Old Invercargill
Old phone boxes at Wachner Place 980’s. Photo: Old Invercargill
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