1868 Businesses at SHORTLAND, Thames

Thanks to a report in 1917 by M WHITEHEAD we can travel the streets of Shortland and see the shops that were in existence in those early, goldrush years.  When thousands wandered the often muddy streets to collect provisions and stop for the odd drink or two.

The report was published in The THAMES STAR newspaper 1 August 1917. The person in question being MATTHIAS WHITEHEAD who came to Thames in 1868 and went on to establish his own bootmaking business in Pollen Street (opposite Walter Street).

The writer turns the corner of Grey Street into Pollen Street, past ADLAM's Store, then takes us north past RENSHAW's, BARNETT's DINING ROOMS, FORD's Hotel, BNZ, Bootstore, Mr OTTO's BOARDING House & Restaurant, SHUTLTZ's Auction Mart, Bootstore, Jewellery shop, Bowling alley, PEAK's Butchery, LICHFIELD, OSBORNE & Co Grocery.

We then go back to the other corner of Grey & Pollen Street on the eastern side at BUTT's SHORTLAND Hotel. Northwards onto HAMILTON's Bakery, LEVY & GOLDWATER Wine & Spirits, KARAKA Hotel, MASON's Hairdressing Saloon, MAY the bootmaker, BARNETT & LEVY General Store, CULPITT the saddler, WOOD the tobacconist, CULPITT's Fancy Pastry Shop, PEMBROKE Hotel, WAIT's Stationary & Library, WILLIAMS drapery and HOTEL [Bendigo] on corner of Willoughby and Pollen Street.

Other shops mentioned in the next block were EXCHANGE Hotel, COX's Chemist, BERTRAM the tentmaker, WILSON's drapery and HUME's Butchery.

Shortland, Thames (1870s) taken from corner of Grey & Pollen Streets (looking north), Butt's Shortland Hotel on the right.

Take a few moments to read the newspaper article in full, and imagine walking up both sides of the street - just as M WHITEHEAD did back in 1868.

(This photo and many others of early Shortland available at The Treasury, Thames and online via sources such as Digital NZ)