Lovely old buildings in Invercargill.

Invercargill has some beautiful old buildings, a fact that I had heard people talk about, but one that I had not taken too much notice of, until now.  Due to the new earthquake regulations for buildings, many old buildings in Invercargill and elsewhere in New Zealand have become vacant.   Buildings have to be strengthened to meet the new regulations.  This is a very costly process.  

On a very cold and windy day, Margaret, Walter and I went for a long walk, to look at the old buildings.  We walked on the nearly pedestrianised and sheltered Esk Street, along one side of the exposed and wide Dee Street, back along the other side and then around the old bank corner, where the wind whipped our faces, into Tay Street.  

We parked the car in a covered carpark opposite H and J Smith, one of two department stores remaining in Invercargill.   We walked across the covered walkway into the shop, where we looked at the merchandise for sale, and ate lunch in the restaurant.  

The view of Esk Street, which is slowly being filled in with paved areas.   At the moment it is one way, with angle parking for cars, short term parking only.   When I mention to people that the street should be pedestrianised I am told that people want to park outside the shop that they intend to shop in. A bit short sighted I think.

I used to work in an insurance company at the other end of Esk Street, behind the clock tower, just visible in the photograph below.  My first job.  It was a very boring one too, typing out policies and trying to decipher my shorthand notes after the manager dictated letters to me every Friday afternoon.  

We noticed that many of the old buildings were Venetian in style.

Once we entered Dee Street, we hardly passed a person. Many shops were
empty. This street used to be bustling with people, with every shop filled with stock.  Friday's were always busy, as this was the day the farmers and their wives came into town.  The front of Woolworths was an especially popular meeting place.

A colourful mural on the wall of a building.

A beautiful Venetian style building, badly in need of restoration

The entrance to the Grand Hotel, once a smart and expensive hotel, which sadly became student accommodation.  Luckily it is currently being restored, and boosts accommodation for all travellers, from thrifty backpackers to people wishing luxury accommodation.   The foyer smelt very musty

I remember when Queen Elizabeth, in 1954, stood on the balcony to wave to the people of Invercargill.

Walter and Margaret, walking on their own along the street.  The verandah roof needs some urgent repairs.

Dee street, which was very wide, and with garden beds separating the two sides of the road.  There were plenty of cars but no pedestrians.

E. Hayes and Sons, Hardware, Homeware, Giftware and Engineering Supply Store, with its display of very old motorcycles, including Burt Munro's motorbike.

Burt Munro, on his Indian Scout, set the under 1000cc world record at Bonneville, USA, on the 26th August, 1967.  He was 68 years old and his motorbike was a modified 47 year old bike.   A movie was made about Burt Munro, called 'The World's Fastest Indian'(2005).

The tools displayed meticulously on the wall of the store at Hayes.  This is a store where one can still buy single nails, bolts and screws.  They are stored in drawers.

The problem in Invercargill, is that huge store chains, have taken the trade away from the centre of the town.  Behind E. Hayes and Sons, which is at the far end of Dee Street, there are huge stores which have equally large carparks, without parking meters.  People can park and walk directly into the store of their choice.

More magnificent buildings.

The old Post Office, now apartments.  I remember when this Post Office was extremely busy.

The corner of Dee and Tay Street, where there used to be banks on three of the corners.  One of the buildings is now a church.

The War Memorial in the centre made it an effective roundabout.   This was a corner where everyone scurried around, holding onto their hats and clasping their coats tightly.  It felt like that the wind always whistled around this corner. Yet there was often a photographer standing there, to take photos of people.

On the day Margaret, Walter and I ran around the corner, the place lived up to its name.  Cold, bleak and very windy.

An old department store, Thompson and Beattie Ltd where Margaret once worked.  Now a motorcycle museum.

We walked back to H and J Smith, looked at the merchandise again and warmed up, before driving back home.

A very interesting day, with plenty of reminiscing.

I must add that the weather did improve in Invercargill, and we had some lovely sunny and warm days before we left there.