The Royal Arcade

(Ross’ Royal Arcade)
Sophia St Through to Stafford St
1888

Thought to be NZ’s oldest surviving example of an intact late Victorian/Edwardian commercial arcade. Ornate glass and steel shopping arcades were a feature of many 19th-century cities, but they were less common in towns. Timaru’s Royal Arcade is a fine example, and a sign of the town’s ‘big city’ aspirations. Cast iron columns above allow for maximum glazing of shop fronts.

It was developed by mayor (1888-1891) David Mitchell Ross (commission agent and notary public) between 1887-1907. six months after he finished his term as mayor he and his partner Sims were adjusted bankrupt. Apparently his books had not been balanced for 12 years. He was later trialed for fraud in 1892 and sentenced to nine months hard labor and did not return to Timaru. "Judge Ward said for the last twelve years Ross had been a perfect pest to the district, and he wondered how anyone trusted him coming from Dunedin with such a record as he did" - Poverty Bay Herald, 3 September 1892, Page 2. He is burred in Timaru with his wife Jane 1889 and a month later his mother Mary died.

The stone work was entrusted to Mr McBride ; the bricklaying to Mr Emil Hall ; the plastering to Messrs Oldrey and Guthrie ; the joiner's work to Messrs Tooth and Pearson ; the painting to Mr Murdoch ; the plumbing to Mr Forbes, and the signwriting to Mr Dickenson, all of whom carried out, their duties in a manner that has given the greatest satisfaction.

The arcade was redesigned in 1886. In 1996 a roof was added and the redesigned Royal Arcade was opened on the 31st May 1996 by Mayor Wynne Raymond.

At 17-19 in the Royal Arcade you will find The Arcade Chambers were built in 1907 designed by Architect Wet & Hall and built by Petrie & Mac Dougall in natural brick and plaster mouldings. features arched pediment, pilasters, window detailing and cartouche. This was erected for Charles Bowker in the English renaissance order, and known as the "Bowker Building'. Charles started his career in Timaru as a manager at Clarkson and Turnbull's drapery, the site of today's Oxford Building. He later worked as a land broker and financial agent building a block of shops in the south of Stafford Street. He donated the band rotunda at Alexander Square, and one of his eight children George, donated 16 acres of land in 1934 to make an entry from Otipua Rd to Centennial Park. The gift and the centenary are acknowledged at the Bowker Gateway, built in 1940 to acknowledge the gift of land linking Centennial Park to Otipua Road opposite Church Street. A condition of this gift was that no buildings could be built in this area to obscure the views.

​Dunedin based architect James Hislop designed the anchor building at the Stafford Street end of the Royal Arcade. Located on the southeast corner, the building was erected for the builders' merchants Priest & Holdgate. Priest and Holgate had an ironmonger's store on the southern corner of the arcade. They used a rail with a small truck operated by Priest & Holdgate from their Sophia Street boundary right though the shop to Stafford St to move heavy hardware stock. An item of much intrigue is the underground railway line linking this building with the original railway station for the transport of goods. During the construction of the Priest and Holdgate new building and the extension to the Timaru Herald building in 1906 various problems were encountered. As the Arcade was built over a filled in gully, the foundations for each building had to be sunk 20 feet, and the workmen struck the roots of the peach trees from the original orchard on the site. They also struck the concrete foundations of an old blacksmith’s shop. Learn more here The business later passed into the hands of Briscoes in the 1950’s. Learn more here

The Arcade Cafe was on the top floor of the 1906 Priest and Holdgate extension, and designed by the architect J. S. Turnbull. See if you can find the art nouveau stained glass window following the stair case up to the café (it is outside the arcade).

Willmotts Workwear was founded by by the late Walter (Wattie) Willmott and it continues to thrive in the Royal Arcade since 1930. In 2010 the firm celebrated their 80th anniversary.

William Ferrier (1855-1922) moved from Oamaru to Timaru in 1881 and had his photography and painting studio in the Fife Building opposite the Theatre Royal in 1881 and then later shifted to the Royal Arcade. He helped establish Timaru’s Arts Society, which gave the foundation artworks of the Aigantighe Art Galleries collection. His photographs and paintings are a valuable recourse providing a pictorial history of the time he was living in Timaru. His grandson was the modernist painter Colin McCahon. He died at his home 76 Grey Road in 1922. He had eight children with his wife Eva Beatrice Cunningham who died at Pukiti Bay Waiheke Island. His grave is an almost unmarked plot bearing on W.F - Timaru Cemetery, Stories Behind the Grave

Did you know? When a smell was investigated they found rotting stumps of an old orchard below arcade. In the old map below you can see a stream running through Sophia Street across Stafford Street to the sea.

The arcade has examples of notable architects. 

• James Hislop: A Dunedin-based architect, Hislop designed the anchor building at the Stafford Street end of the Royal Arcade. This structure, erected for the builders' merchants Priest & Holdgate, features ornate detailing on its Stafford Street frontage and distinctive brickwork along the arcade's flank.

   

• J.S. Turnbull: Designed the 1906 extension for Priest & Holdgate, which included the Arcade Café on the top floor. Notably, this extension features an art nouveau stained glass window along the staircase leading up to the café.

• Watt & Hall: This architectural firm designed the Arcade Chambers, also known as the "Bowker Building," constructed in 1907 at 17-19 Royal Arcade. Commissioned by Charles Bowker, the building showcases English Renaissance architectural elements, including arched pediments and detailed window designs.

• David Mitchell Ross: While primarily known as a businessman and politician, Ross self-designed the Ross, Sims & Co. Building in 1888, located at the center of the arcade's north side. This building served as the offices and commercial premises for his firm.

Detail from 1925 Timaru inner-city block plan showing Royal Arcade. Timaru District Council.

DP 1110, dated June and July 1893, showing state of arcade development at the time of DM Ross’s bankruptcy proceedings. LINZ.

This hardware shop was entered from the corner of Stafford Street and the Royal Arcade.  On January 1st, 1867, Mr Edward Reece sent Mr Priest to Timaru from Christchurch. Edward had a hardware business in Christchurch and it was his intention to open a branch of his hardware store in Timaru and Mr Priest was to be the manager of this new branch. At the same time, Mr Holdgate was working for Clarkson and Turnbull, owners of another large general store in Timaru. However, it was a further six years before Messrs Priest and Holdgate got together.  In September 1873, they started off in a partnership with their own hardware business known as Priest and Holdgate.  Their business boomed in the ensuing years, it is said that Priest and Holdgate had become recognised as one of the most important hardware firms outside of the principle cities of New Zealand. Referred to as ironmongers, as all hardware businesses were in those early days, the firm catered for a large section of the community including, farmers, blacksmiths, carpenters, engineers, as well as the general public.  But their speciality was Agricultural equipment.   Some of their branches, included the world renowned McCormick Reaper and Binder.  As well as other McCormick products, they also sold products by Andrews and Beaven and P and D. Duncan, along with a host of others. One of their agencies was the world famous Stirling bicycle, but their favourite agency was for the Planet Jr. garden tools, they say that these were recommended for all seasons and were a blessing to all who had gardens. In other words, they did everything in the garden but plant the seed. Learn more

The first Timaru Holdgate to serve overseas in WW1 was Earnest Arthur George Holdgate. He was born in Timaru in 1875, the fourth son to Edward and Betty Holdgate. Edward and Betty had emigrated from Glossop, England, to settle in Timaru in 1863 sailing on the ‘Victory’, one of the first ships to bring emigrants to South Canterbury. Edward Holdgate and William Priest started the well known hardware shop Priest and Holdgate located in the Royal Arcade on Stafford Street. Earnest Holdgate was educated at Timaru Main School. In time Earnest and several of his brothers worked in the family business and Earnest learnt the trades of locksmith, gunsmith and sheet metal worker. In 1893 Earnest joined the local Timaru Volunteer Rifle Company and was described as quite a marksmen often winning shooting competitions. This must have served him well in the ensuing conflict, and he obtained the rank of Captain shortly after enlisting with the South Canterbury Infantry Regiment in December 1914. He duly embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion to Egypt on HMNZT Willochra departing NZ on 17 April 1915. Being a keen family member and participant in affairs of the Banks Street Methodist Church he was given a large church sendoff and was presented him with a fine pair of field glasses in leather case. After a short spell in Egypt he arrived on Gallipoli with the 4th Canterbury reinforcements on 8th June 1915. From Canterbury Regiment Records it appears the 4ths were then put into the trenches at the dangerous location of Quinns Post where they replaced Australian troops. On 10th July 1915 Earnest was wounded in the arm/shoulder by gun shot/shrapnel. The wound was said to be severe entailing bone damage and initially he was shipped to Malta for treatment, and then went on the hospital ship Dover Castle to England where he was admitted on 15th October to the Endsleigh Palace Hospital in London. By early March 1916 he was considered fit for light duties, and by end of March became fit for general services, embarked to Egypt on 24th March, later rejoined his old unit at Rouen in France where he was taken on strength with the Canterbury C Company 4th Rifles. He resumed his rank of Captain by 5th June 1916. According to unit records the Canterbury’s participated in the Somme battles near Flers and when located possibly in the Goose Alley trench system Earnest received a second wounding – a gunshot wound to the knee on 25th September 1916. By 11th November he is recorded as 2 being admitted to the NZ General Hospital at Brokenhurst in England for treatment, was finally placed on the NZ ill health roll by 21st November, and was returned to NZ on the hospital ship Marama arriving in Auckland on 5th March 1917. Family stories were that during his time in England on various leave he managed to get in touch with old family connections in the Glossop-Manchester area. A photo shows him in a line-up of officers about to be presented to King George V. By 25th April 1917 he was struck off strength and by June was discharged, but continued his military duties with the Territorial Army at Burnham Camp where he was promoted to the rank of Major. In the post-war era he worked in the family firm Priest and Holdgate until it passed into the hands of Briscoes in the 1950’s. He remained interested in fishing, shooting, tennis, gardening and music and continued his association with the Banks Street Wesleyan Church where he continued his Sunday school teaching and organist duties as before the war. He remained unmarried, lived with his widowed sister Ethel in Timaru, and died at the grand old age of 89 years in 29th February, 1964. He is buried in the Timaru Cemetery. John Radcliff was cousin to William, he worked over the road d as a salesmen his fathers furnishing company J Radcliffe at the corner of Stafford and Beswick Streets Timaru. Harold enlisted on 11th August 1914 and sailed for Egypt on the 16th October 1914 with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion. He was killed in action sometime in the first days of the landings at Gallipoli (25th -30th April 1915) and his whereabouts is unknown. He is listed as one of those killed at the landings from the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, and his name is engraved on the Lone Pine Memorial at Lone Pine Cemetery (Gallipoli). Learn more

New Zealanders celebrated British victories in the South African War with gusto. Here the citizens of Timaru assemble with instruments and weapons to mark Pretoria Day on 7 June 1900. Pretoria Day celebrated the capture of Pretoria by British forces. - South Canterbury Museum

A float prepared for the "Pretoria Parade" pictured in south Stafford Street, Timaru, in 1900. Depicts a horses-drawn wagon and people in costume for the 'Pretoria Parade', celebrating the capture of Pretoria by British forces during the South African (Boer) War. - South Canterbury Museum 1495

To-day Mr J. R. Stewart, photographer, opens the Lorne Studios, in premises formerly known as the Mahan Studio, in the Arcade, Timaru. Mr  Stewart comes from Wellington with twenty-seven years' experience in general photography, and portrait work in particular. The working apparatus is very complete, and enables Mr Stewart to execute very fine art portraiture and also complete panoramic work. The Lorne Studios are prepared to execute wedding groups, either at your residence or in the studio