(4) Tay Street looking East, c.1870s

Component — Box: ICC-0998

Identifier: S27520001_004

Staff Only

Tay Street looking East

Scope and Contents

Featuring a team of horses facing east on Tay Street. Buildings situated in Block XII between Nith and Conon streets, and Block XIII between Conan and Ythan Street, line the south side of the street. The building in the far distance is the Farmers’ Arms Hotel on the corner of Ythan and Tay Streets.

The north side of the street shows footpath battens. The shadow comes from the archway at the entrance to the Lowther Arcade. Photographer unidentified, possibly Donald William Ross as it is taken from outside his business next to the Lowther Arcade.

Dates

c.1870s

Conditions Governing Use

This item has no known copyright restrictions. Please acknowledge Invercargill City Council Archives, Ref: A0105 S27520001_004, when re-using this image.

Biographical / Historical

In Block XII, Section 10 opposite St. John's Church, the photo features George Lumsden's watchmaking premises (centre with verandah, see also photos 41 and 53). Lumsden first established his watchmaking and jewellery business on Tay Street in 1861 approximately in sections 7 or 8 of Block XIII, now the site of SIT. It is possible the high pitched roofed buildings at the far end of the photo in Block XIII are these premises, later occupied by Froggatt’s butchery. In 1866, Lumsden moved to his second premises west along Tay Street into the next block.

George Ott’s tailor shop is to the immediate right of Lumsden’s shop. The chemist shop to the right of Ott’s shop is probably that of John Hayes. After his partnership with Joseph Hatch was dissolved in 1867, Hayes set up his own business on the south side of Tay Street, opposite St Johns Church before moving to permanent premises in Dee Street. Further east, the Provincial Hotel stands on the corner of Conon and Tay Streets, recognised by the ornate lamp at the front.

In Block XIII, east of Conon Street, the Oddfellow’s Hall, Froggatt’s butchery, Joseph Hatch’s chemist shop and the old Waverley Hotel which became Baggott’s Boarding House (see photos 33 and 82) are featured. The original buildings of First Presbyterian Church must be tucked back behind these buildings.

Across on the Ythan Street corner on, Section 1 of Block LII, is the Farmer’s Arms Hotel. The Farmer’s Arms Hotel was first known as the Three Bells Hotel. It was opened in November 1863 by William Robertson (Southland Times, 13 November 1863, p.3). In March 1868, William Mackay bought the hotel, renamed it the Farmer’s Arms (Southland Times, 27 March 1868, p.4), and remained as the proprietor until 1873. Julius Seehof owned the Farmer’s Arms Hotel from 1875 until 1883. Mrs Anna Maria McLaughlan, a former Government teacher, took it over in March 1889 (Mataura Ensign, 1 March 1889, p.1). She was followed by Margaret Scanlan and finally George Froggatt. The hotel eventually became a boarding house.