Cnr Royal Arcade & Stafford Street
Spy basement windows at the former 1880 Priest and Holdgate store
A tunnel... was more like a basement used by Priest and Holdgate iron mongers who pushed a cart along rails under the arcade. The creek is piped underneath what’s thought to be NZ’s oldest surviving late Victorian / Edwardian commercial arcade from 1800.
Thought to be the longest surviving late Victorian / Edwardian commercial arcade in NZ.
Did you know... that a stream used to flow here? It was piped underground and the bank was cut back forming the basements.
When a smell was investigated they found rotting stumps of an old orchard below the arcade.
The arcade was developed by commission agent David Ross in 1888 a year after he began as Mayor. After his term as Mayor (1888–1891) he was found guilty of fraud. He hadn’t kept his books up-to-date for 11 years. He was sentenced to nine months hard labor.
There used to be a womens restroom where Willmotts is today. A dispensary for The Friendly Society also used to operate here, a club where people paid a regular fee for free medical care and other benefits. Willmotts Workwear was founded here in 1930.
The Bowker Building was erected for Charles Bowker.
He was a manager at Clarkson and Turnbull's drapery (now the Oxford Building), then a land broker and financial agent. He built shops on Stafford St and donated a band rotunda at Alexandra Square.
His son George donated land for the Otipua Rd entry to Centennial Park, and a bluestone “Bowker” gateway was added in 1940.
William Ferrier had a photography and painting studio here. His legacy of photography and art gives an insight to Timaru’s settlement. He helped establish Timaru’s Arts Society and his grandson was famous NZ painter Colin McCahon.
The arcade was redesigned in 1886. The roof was added and the Arcade was re-opened in 1996 by Mayor Wynne Raymond.
Find ghost signs - The remnants of signage painted on brick, are a small insight to those who used the arcade long ago.
Other Secret tunnels?
There used to be a tramway tunnel and railway siding under the Terrace that connected to a rat proof grain store which you can see on a couple of meters up The Terrace. Around 1885, wagons on rail pulled by horses or pushed by men travelled about 50m to then 1878 Miles-Archer bluestone grain and wool warehouse (now Community House (C2 L2069).
This building started out as a horse bazzar. The turntable at the Port entrance was relocated to Pleasant Point. Contrary to rumours, the tunnel didn’t go further. On Station St, there are air raid shelters. Under the streets are storm water drains large enough to walk through. Some shops have basements.