Thames (NZ): Victoria Park revisited through the lens of William A Price

Early 1900s: Victoria Reserve and waterfront, Thames.
Ref: 1/2-001550-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23019249

We were talking about the Pacific Hotel a few weeks back, this phototograph by William A Price was taken from the hotel, looking west at Victoria Park. A great view that shows the inner boundary footpath that was around the inner perimeter of the park. The photograph was one of several taken by William A Price of landmarls around the town of Thames in the early 1900s.

Above Present day Google map street view. From the site where the Pacific Hotel stood, looking down Albert Street. The end of Albert Street that led to the wharf and railway line.

A Closer Look:

There is no sign of the old wharf that was quickly erected when the goldfield opened.

The road way access is in poor condition.

There are fishing nets drying on the poles centre left.

The man on the right looks like he has been for his morning paper!

There is a sign in the centre - maybe it says keep away from the new trees!

Who was William A Price (1866-1948):

Name Price, William Archer
Studio address Queen Street, Northcote 1911;Herne Bay, Auckland City 1937?
Known years of operation 1911 to 1937
Source Auckland Directory (1911), p314; J B Turner, History of Photography in New Zealand (1986), p5; Main and Jackson, "Wish You Were Here" (2005), p73.
Remarks William Archer Price 1866-1948 began publishing postcards around 1906 and was initially based in Wanganui, before moving to Northcote (Auckland) around 1907, then on to Herne Bay, and finally Ponsonby. His early postcards were imprinted "The W.A.P Colour Photographic Series. Wanganui Photo Co NZ", which became "Wanganui Photo Co, Northcote, Auckland, NZ", and then "W.A. Price Photo Co".

Source: Photographers Database, Auckland Libraries  

Numbering on Photographs:

Photographers typically numbered their postcard views. In the case of the above Price photograph, it is numbered 1390D. Below left is 1391D and on the right 1389D - they are all views taken in Prices' panorama view of Victoria Park.

 

Above left: Caption: Victoria Park, Thames. Ref: 1/2-001166-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22795620

Above right: Caption: Victoria Reserve, Thames. Ref: 1/2-001548-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22801191