Open Days - Hoffman Kiln & old Power Station

Val from Kelvin Grove

Two ‘Industrial Heritage’ open days (afternoons) in the Roslyn area on Sunday, November 10th, are being held in the course of Palmerston North’s Heritage Week activities. Come and check out either what they are and represent – or what developments might have happened at them since your last visit/s.

The Hoffman Kiln, at 615 Featherston Street, produced a large percentage of the bricks used in Palmerston North and the surrounding region between 1904 and 1959. Come and see how this example of ancient technology operated, and how this kiln site is being developed. The adjoining Edwards Pit Park is the kiln’s former clay pit. The kiln’s open day will run between 12:00 noon and 4:00pm

The old Palmerston North Electric Power Station, at 162 Keith Street (alongside Terrace End Cemetery) produced the original public electricity generation to Palmerston North and the surrounding district during 1924, preceding the Mangahao Hydro Dam’s opening in November 1924. It then partly became Mangahao’s sub-station. Its huge British Polar 1936-installed diesel engines still run, and with do so ‘on the hour’ between 12:30pm and 4:00pm during the open day.

Both these buildings are Category One heritage sites. Admission to both is free, but donations are welcomed (enthusiastically!) as such sites are very costly to preserve – and each has its own special (and significant) preservation needs. Naturally both sites are also ‘enter at your own risk’ – and please park with care.

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