By Roselyn Fauth
From a Scrapbook includes newspaper clippings and photographs featuring AMP branches and events in Australia and New Zealand. openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au
If you stand on Stafford Street today at the site of Aoraki Legal, was the AMP building that used to be opposite the BNZ corner. This area of Timaru held what I think was one of the city’s most handsome Victorian commercial buildings. Then, it was gone. the only reason I knew it was there, was the law firm who is in the bulding that is there today, proudly displays a illustration of it in their foyer. This is the story of what happened to it...
A 1928 Building That Fitted Its Place
The first AMP office here was built in the early 1890s, when Timaru was right in the middle of its big growth spurt. The railway had connected us to Christchurch and Dunedin, Rhodes Town had become the real centre of the South Canterbury settlement, and after the Great Fire of 1868 the town had to rebuild stronger in brick and stone.
Then a newer AMP building joined this streetscape three years after the Oxford was completed in 1925, by the same architects. It had tall arched windows, decorative detailing, a strong cornice and the big painted sign on the side wall reading A M P Society. I think it sat beautifully among its neighbours such as Rhodes Buildings, the Old Bank Hotel, Coronation Buildings, Hays, Stafford Chambers, and Public Trust office. All of them adding up to what is now recognised as one of the best surviving Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes in the entire country.
The AMP building belonged there. The newspaper clippings from 1972 gave me plenty of information about the new AMP building, but not much about the building it replaced. There is something that iches in me when there's a missing detail like that, so off I went.. on another side quest
Detail of an illustraiton that is in the foyer of Aoraki Legal
What I had was a illustration, and reaffirmation from Percy W Rule's grandson Michael Norris that the myth of their best building was lost.
After a chat with Michael I remembered I had seen this building in the foyer at Aoraki Legal. Turnbull and rule had a very particular way of balancing a façade. Once I had seen a few of their buildings, I began to recognise the resemblance. And the AMP building has it. The date fits. Early 1890s, when Turnbull and rule were active and by the sound of it they became the architect of choice for commercial and residential clients.
So what happened? It was destroyed to make way for something new...
By the 1950s and 1960s, Timaru, like the rest of the country, was firmly in the grip of Modernism. New buildings had flat roofs, large areas of glass, clean lines, white concrete and steel. We had the Perpetual Trustees building running through to Cains Terrace, the new BNZ building at the George Street corner and the MLC building nearby. The city felt ready to step into a brighter future.
In that climate, the Victorian AMP building might have felt old? Maybe not historic, just old. And out of fashion. and maybe there was a practical or structural reason that was taken into account when they decided to pull it down.
In January 1971 the demolition crews arrived. On 8 January they began digging, going down 26 feet to reach solid ground for the new foundation. The 1928 façade disappeared piece by piece and before long there was nothing left but a bare patch of earth waiting for something new.
AMP Society opens new building: Handsome Addition To Stafford Street / Company Representatives (29 Feb 1972). Aoraki Heritage Collection, accessed 22/11/2025, https://aorakiheritage.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/762
A New Building for a New Decade
On 29 February 1972 the Mayor officially opened the new AMP building. Designed by an Auckland firm, it was very modern for its time. Long clean lines, white stone, large windows, air conditioning and a smart boardroom upstairs. It was meant to look efficient and forward looking and it did. People were proud of it. They saw progress. The AMP team even celebrated winning the national directors trophy for the best sales record in the country. Everything about that moment felt optimistic.
Was anyone standing there thinking about what had been lost?
Looking Back From Now
Today we understand things differently. The Timaru District Council heritage study recognises this end of Stafford Street as one of the finest Victorian and Edwardian commercial precincts in New Zealand. It truly is. But the original AMP building would have strengthened it even more. Another thread in the story. Another Turnbull building. Another piece of the place we recognise as home. But it vanished in 1971, right before heritage began to matter to people. Only a few years too early.
This story reminds me that the character of a town does not disappear in a single moment. It slips away one demolition at a time, usually with good intentions, and usually before anyone realises what is being lost.
Even though the building has long gone, its story has not. The absence itself has become part of the landscape. When you stand on that part of Stafford Street and imagine a Victorian façade where the modern building sits now, you can almost feel the shape of it.
Maybe that is what heritage does best.
It helps us see what is no longer there.
And sometimes, if we listen closely, even a demolished building can still speak.
https://aorakiheritage.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/536?keywords=amp&type=all&highlights=WyJhbXAiLCJhbSJd
Page 10 The Timaru Herald Wednesday, March 1, 1972
Mayor Opens New AMP Building
“In 1970 life insurance companies operating in New Zealand had assets totalling $1281 million, of which 38 per cent was invested in property mortgages, 20.6 per cent in Government securities and 7.3 per cent in local authority securities,” said the Mayor (Mr C. R. Hervey), when he officially opened the new Timaru branch office of the Australian Mutual Provident Society in Stafford Street yesterday.
Mr Hervey, who was addressing a gathering of the society’s directors, management, staff, clients and invited guests, said life insurance companies were leading lenders of long term funds to the private sector and investors in Government and local body stock.
“Life insurance companies are bound to place a certain percentage of their assets in Government securities, but it may be reasonable to suggest that the percentage of investment in local authority securities could be increased,” Mr Hervey said. “The moneys which they need for the development of capital works are dependent upon availability in the loan market and if the life insurance companies are unwilling, because of the return, to invest greater amounts in local authority securities, then perhaps the Government should agree that less could be invested in Government securities provided this is diverted to the local authority sector. This may be a pious hope on the part of local authorities but hope and experience are often related,” said Mr Hervey.
Sir Clifford had mentioned earlier that there had been comments that the Timaru building was rather small. He said the planning had been done three or four years ago and had been based on the anticipated growth. “But do not give up hope,” he told the Mayor. “If there is the need, we will certainly do something about it. In the meantime, do not murder us with rates.”
ECONOMIC SOLIDITY
“The Department of Industries and Commerce a few years ago prepared an economic survey on the South Canterbury region and stated in it that the South Canterbury financial structure exhibited greater solidity and prosperity than is found in many other New Zealand districts. This was exemplified, among other things, in the sound state of local body finance, the high level of personal savings, the general low level in indebtedness and the fairly high levels of average incomes. It was also reported at the time that the Inland Revenue Department district centred on Timaru showed it to have the second highest income per capita in New Zealand. But the state of local body finance does not imply that local bodies are not competitively in the market for loan moneys.”
Earlier, the Timaru branch manager, Mr R. A. Leach, welcomed the gathering and thanked the builders, C. Lund and Son Ltd, and the architect, Mr O. W. MacDonald, for the excellence of their work.
Sir Clifford Plimmer, chairman of the AMP Society’s New Zealand branch board of directors, congratulated the New Zealand manager, Mr D. F. Walker (who was present) and his staff on the success of the society’s business operations.
“The society always had and will continue to have confidence in South Canterbury and Timaru City, in particular,” said Sir Clifford.
“Although there has not been a great population growth in Timaru, it is noticeable that there has been considerable industrial expansion. Timaru is a lovely city,” he said.
Insurance companies, said Sir Clifford, were directed by the Government to invest in Government stock and local body loans.
INVESTMENT PAYOUT
The AMP Society’s investment payout for 1971 included $12,020,000, or 23.4 per cent, in public loans; $22,620,000 (44.1 per cent) in loans to various classes of policy holders, of which $11,010,000 was on houses and farms, $5,940,000 on commercial mortgages, $5,670,000 on policies; and $16,750,000 (32.5 per cent) in various equities.
Sir Clifford said insurance companies insured people’s lives and therefore had to make long term investments for the best possible returns.
“For example,” he said, “the AMP Society is investing between $8 and $10 million in a huge, 12 storey hotel in Christchurch, and involving retail shops and offices for the society. Only a company like the AMP could undertake investments of that magnitude.”
Sir Clifford said that last year the AMP sold business totalling $3,054 million in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealand figure, $420 million, representing an increase of 42 per cent would be, almost without doubt, the greatest percentage increase written up by any New Zealand life company.
There was a company dinner last night to celebrate the Timaru office’s success in winning the 1971 directors trophy, awarded annually for the country area office with the highest percentage of sales quota. Timaru’s 1971 sales quota was about twice that of its nearest rival, Nelson.
George Street, Timaru. Hocken Digital Collections, https://hocken.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/23495
The Timaru Herald – Tuesday, Feb. 29, 1972 – Page 12
AMP SOCIETY opens new building
FITZGERALD & BATCHELOR LTD
installed all electrical wiring
We are specialists in all electrical work
• New Houses
• Alterations
• Extra Points
• Lights
PHONE 89-665
Local Agents for
the “CHAMPION” AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE
(Photo of men seated at a board table)
Caption begins under photo:
The N Z branch board of the Australian Mutual Provident Society is pictured at the AMP Building in Wellington. Left to right are Messrs J A Fowler, W A Beere, K A Wells, J A Mills, Sir Clifford Plimmer (chairman), H W Parfitt (chief manager), G B Davis, and D L Sutherland.
During their visit to Timaru today the directors will inspect the new AMP building and meet staff and local businessmen.
Society Began Insuring Lives 118 Years Ago
Established in Sydney in 1849, the Australian Mutual Provident Society did not open a branch office in New Zealand until 1871, but it began insuring lives in 1854, when it authorised its first agent.
There are now AMP branch offices throughout New Zealand. District offices are maintained at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Branch offices are at Whangarei, Auckland City, Takapuna, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington City, Lower Hutt, Nelson, Greymouth, Timaru, Christchurch City, Ashburton, Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. The present head office of the society in New Zealand is in Wellington.
Positions on the board have been filled by Sir John Logan Campbell, Sir George McLean, Sir Robert Stout, Sir Edwin Mitchelson, Sir John Sinclair, Mr Charles E Adams and Mr T W Hislop. The present members of the board are Sir Clifford Plimmer, Messrs J A Mills, G B Davis, W A Beere, K A Wells, R A Fowler and D L Sutherland.
The AMP Society began business in New Zealand in the South Island and its first office was opened at Dunedin in 1871.
(Right column)
Timaru Staff Covers Wide Region
(Photo of R A Leach)
Mr R A Leach (above), manager of the AMP Society’s Timaru branch office, says that the office services a wide area of South Canterbury and North Otago.
Clients are collected from as far afield as Kaikoura, Oamaru and Twizel.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AMP
from
Hamilton Cartwright LIMITED
Demolition and Site Excavation Specialists
Phone 81-074
another major PAINTING CONTRACT
successfully concluded by the skilled staff of
PAGES PAINT CENTRE
Popular Paint People
JOHN BURNS & CO LTD
WOOLLCOMBE STREET TIMARU PHONE 5139
were entrusted with the supply and fixing of the
ALUMINIUM ROOF
ON THE AMP SOCIETY OFFICE BLOCK
another quality job by
John Burns Roofing Division
USE OUR FREE CUSTOMER CAR PARK
We are pleased to be associated with the completion of the new AMP building
Supplying and Installing the
DUPLEX SENTINEL
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
The non electric compressed air fire security service
instantaneous call to the fire station
90 per cent of all fire alarm systems in Timaru business houses are Sentinel
15 per cent per annum insurance rebate
SOUTHGATE ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD
Phone 6364
64 Stafford Street
all CARPET in the AMP building was supplied and layed by
Reese Bros
“The Flooring Specialists”
A particularly good range available by the best known names in carpet manufacturing in the country.
Competitive Prices
Free Quotes
Easy Terms
Expert Installations
We welcome taking samples to your home for selection
PHONE 7265
134 Stafford Street Phone or call on us Today
OAMARU REPS
(Photos)
ALAN GRAY
36 Dan Street, Oamaru
Phone Oamaru 71-507
VIC BUGG
5 Eden Street, Oamaru
Phone 43-793
TONY WILLETTS
57 Orwell Street, Oamaru
Phone 72-658
PRECISION CONCRETE
EXTEND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS
to the AMP on the completion of the new building and are pleased to be associated with another major contract in South Canterbury.
PRECISION CONCRETE
TRIED TESTED AND PROVEN THROUGHOUT S C
Phone 5599
After hours Phone 5907
OUR BEST WISHES TO THE AMP ON THE OPENING OF THEIR NEW OFFICE
Our work involved
ALL PLUMBING AND DRAINAGE AND CENTRAL HEATING
Hadlee & Williams Ltd
78 Sophia Street Phone 3817
(Photo of photographer)
MY THANKS TO THE AMP SOCIETY FOR THIS PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSIGNMENT
I offer a complete photographic service in domestic and commercial photography in black and white or colour
YOUR WEDDING
COMING OF AGE PARTY
ANY SOCIAL EVENT
CANDID HOME PORTRAITURE
We specialise extensively in commercial photography
Telephone ME at 7216
J J (Yope) Kalksma
for professional photography
3 Oxford Street Phone 3590
TRANSCRIPTION — AMP SOCIETY OPENS NEW BUILDING
The Timaru Herald, Tuesday, February 29, 1972
Page 1 of 2
AMP SOCIETY opens new building
the new
AMP SOCIETY
BUILDING
another quality
BUILDING CONTRACT
by
C. LUND & SONS LTD
GRANTS ROAD, TIMARU
TELEPHONE 81-424
(Large photograph of new building)
(Smaller photograph of old building with A.M.P. Society sign visible)
Caption beneath photos:
The new premises of the AMP Society in Stafford Street (at left) strikes a contrast with the former building on the same site. Demolished in 1970, the old two storeyed building was erected in the early 1890s. The latest building on Stafford Street was constructed in the very modern manner by Mr L. H. Barrel. For foundation work, it was necessary to excavate 26 feet to the solid reef running under the city.
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES
DON FENTON
Phone 8335
BRUCE ROBERTSON
Phone 6086
BARRIE SCOTT
50 Pukaki Street, Timaru
Phone 86-277
BRYAN FRANKLIN
18 Elizabeth Street, Timaru
Phone 7567
GRAHAM WESTGARTH
LIFE, GENERAL, SUPERANNUATION
51B Eyre Street, Timaru
Phone 6116
DAVE LESHMAN
LIFE, GENERAL, FIRE & MARINE
Phone 8369
Handsome Addition To Stafford Street
The Australian Mutual Provident Society’s new building in Stafford Street, which is to be officially opened today by the Mayor of Timaru (Mr C. R. Hervey) is a handsome addition to the city’s business and commercial world.
The old building was demolished in 1970, and the new building was commenced after excavation work had been completed by E. F. Vincent Ltd.
The architect was O. W. MacDonald, of the Auckland firm of Massey, Beatson and Austin.
Work was started on January 8, 1971. The building was completed in February 1972.
It is a two storey office block with general office, manager’s room, inspector’s office, strongroom and staff room on the ground floor. Upstairs are the boardroom, storage and general offices.
The interior decorating was done by Precision Concrete Ltd.
The painting was done by Pages Paint Centre and all electrical installations were done by Fitzgerald and Batchelor Ltd.
All carpet was supplied and laid by Reese Bros.
The roofing was by John Burns and Co. Ltd.
Page 2 of 2
(Large illustration of rider on a horse meeting a man beside a car)
No. 1 man for insurance
Back in 1854 when you wanted to buy Life Insurance there were not many people to turn to.
Matter of fact there was only one. John Anderson Gilfillan, the AMP man. Gilfillan, an Auckland merchant, became the first AMP representative in New Zealand in 1854.
John Gilfillan was well known in Auckland. He was a member of the first Auckland Provincial Council and first President of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Family stories tell of him riding to the city daily on his pony “Blue”.
A lot has happened since those days and a great many New Zealanders have benefited from the presence of AMP. It marks 100 years since AMP set up the New Zealand Branch, and since the first Board of Directors met in Wellington, AMP has paid out $250 million in claims and matured policies. Two hundred and fifty million dollars. Money paid to New Zealanders.
New Zealanders have put it to every conceivable use. Deposits on homes, mortgages, straightening teeth, taking piano lessons, sailing boats, living life.
There have been many changes since AMP representatives rode horses like “Blue”. For one thing they are more likely to come by fastback than horseback. And if things are not going smoothly, you want to see whether you are home or not, the AMP representative is still the number one person to see.
(AMP logo)
AMP REPRESENTATIVES
ROBIN MURRAY
Office 21A, Temuka
Phone 8905
BARRY BIPPIN
15 Tripp Street, Timaru
Phone 6506
GAVIN CRAIG
13 Church Street, Timaru
Phone 5782
BRIAN STEVENSON
19 Dover Street, Timaru
Phone 8788
WALLY REED
96 Orbell Street, Timaru
Phone 8561
GEORGE DAVIES
153 Morgans Road, Timaru
Phone 86477
BRIAN FAIRE
25 Preston Street, Timaru
Phone 56776
MARGARET AND LIONEL JOHNSON
16 Douglas Street, Timaru
Phone 5150
Chairman Of Board Presiding
(Photo of Sir Clifford Plimmer)
The chairman of the AMP Society’s New Zealand board of directors, Sir Clifford Plimmer, will be presiding at the opening today. Sir Clifford is one of the country’s best known businessmen.
Mr D. F. Walker will be the new branch manager. He has been with the New Zealand division for 22 years.
Sir Clifford said that AMP expected to show confidence in South Canterbury and Timaru for years to come.
The building was constructed by C. Lund and Son Ltd and has been described as a very modern addition to the city.