Aerial take on Kowhai Park

AERIAL photographs of Feilding taken 81 years ago are likely to be used in a series of signs planned for the town’s historic Kowhai Park.

The sharp, black and white images were taken in 1930 by the town’s celebrated professional photographer, Bert Hobday, who helped pioneer the art of aerial photography in New Zealand.

Negatives of the aerial shoot were recently discovered by his grandson, Gavin Scott, of Halcombe, after checking out a box of family mementoes sent to him a number of years ago.
“I had no idea the negatives contained photos showing Kowhai Park,” said Mr Scott, curator of the nearby Kitchener Park.

He said Mr Hobday, who founded the New Zealand Professional Photographers Association, was ahead of his time and most probably took the photos out of interest in his home patch and aerial photography.

Ten years earlier, Mr Hobday paid 15 pounds to take the first flight out of Feilding (from the racecourse). He later flew with Sir Francis Chichester and was commissioned by a national newspaper to take aerial photos of Napier following the 1931 earthquake.

Parks and Reserves Manager, Albert James, said Mr Hobday’s photographs showing Kowhai Park were likely to be reproduced on interpretive signs with directional signage that would stand inside the park grounds.

“They are amazing shots, showing Kowhai Park as it was over 80 years ago, and with the build-up of houses around it. And it’s interesting to see the racecourse, in the days long before Manfeild, and the old buildings that are still there, like the tote (totalisator).”

Mr James said some of the photos would be blown up and used on the signage boards as backdrops to show people what the park once looked like.

“They provide a good piece of history and used to tell the park’s history as we don’t have any photos from that era,” he said.

Manawatu District Council has been seeking stories and photographs to celebrate the way people have used and enjoyed Kowhai Park since its inception in 1881.

The best of the images and personal moments will be considered for inclusion on interpretive, directional signs that are to stand inside the park grounds. All contributions will also be entered into a draw for an appropriate prize.
Photographs from Hobday-Scott collection