The cars in the postcard on the left, whats your estimate as to age of the cars? Early 1960s?
Whats differences can you spot?
1. Concrete strip up the centre of Pollen Street. In the 1910s there were several concrete crossings at intersections along the street. This was considered a great advancement at the time. In 1924 the concrete strip tender process was underway.
2. Chestnut tree at the corner of Pollen and Mary Street - North West intersect. Look at the photo below and you can see the tree standing tall, where the courtyard by the ANZ (old National) Bank is today. This tree was the focus of attention at Christmas, when it was decorated with lights. It was also a gathering place with several seats under the shade of the tree.
3. From Walter Street intersect south there were several residential houses. In the 1955 Street Directory the properties from Walter St to Mary St intersect were: J LEWIS, Mrs May HANSEN, L A MOULDER, Chas DYER, R T CLARKE (publisher), Thames Trotting Club, A J RYAN (or BRYAN), T J COLWILL, and R OLIVER (dentist). In the 1950s Directory my Grandfather Fred CORNES was living in one of these houses.
4. Parking, while the angle and parallel parking is the same as today - from memory the parallel side was not divided into car parks as it is today. I can't make out the dividing lines in the postcard, but it could be that they just haven't shown up in the photo.
5. The Trotting Club building, is the one with the verandah over the footpath, on the right (west side) of the postcard. The old Trotting Club building and adjacent house were demolished and a new building completed in 1969. The estimated cost at tender was $26,000.
Before & After: The Trotting Club building 1967 (prior to demolition). On the right the new Trotting Arcade 1969, made up of several offices and shops.
ABOVE: Full view of the Pollen Street Postcard.
***** GOOGLE MAPS UPDATE *****
While looking for further photographs for this article, I went to "Google maps", next minute I know I am getting aerial views that I can rotate and change the angles. Not your usual satellite views, or maybe I haven't be using the site properly. So in case you are like me, it may pay to have a play! You use Ctrl + Mouse to rotate for 3D Views. Google maps link to Thames, click HERE.
Here are some examples below.
View from behind the Una (Karaka) Hill towards the town.
Below, looking east towards the hills.
Don't the hills look beautiful, its so easy to forget the beautiful country behind our town!
