Film clip: NZ Centennial Exhibition grounds
Exhibition grounds and Kupe statue.
Still shots and description
The title card reads 'Let's Have a Change and See the Exhibition'. We begin our look at the exterior of the Exhibition with a close-up of a fountain. Water falls in sprays from each of three levels, and into the pool below. Behind, on one of the Exhibition's many buildings, flags are waving in the breeze. Next we see a tall, rectangular building with 'Australia' on it, indicating that it must be Australia's pavilion. The white building has tall columns on some of its sides, making it appear striped. It is reflected in the large pool in front of us. Now we see the pool from a different angle: it is surrounded by shrubs in square terracotta planters and lights on tall white poles. Some of the Exhibition's many visitors are wandering between the buildings in the background. In our next view we see the fountain again, and behind it a large white building and a tall concrete tower. In the foreground is a bed of orange flowers. In a closer view of the tower we see it is topped by a flag pole, one of the many in this patriotic exhibition. The water in the pool in front of us is rippled by the wind. Looking at the street below, we see a tram-like vehicle drive past three art deco towers in the centre of the road, while other visitors walk to their destinations. The same view from another angle shows how close the Exhibition is to the nearby hills. A series of short scenes show the rectangular pool from above, the blue and green soundshell and a close-up of the tram. It ends with the bronze statue of Kupe, his staff pointing above him, silhouetted grandly against the blue sky.
Credit
Private Collection
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TwitterAt the age of 7 I was taken to the exhibition by Mum & Dad, Mum had TB and died 8th May 1940. As she was not well i was given her ticket to ride on the sightseeing vehicle. Later on dad & I went on the train which fell over as it was going round & staff were to the rescue & they thought a boy was trapped under a carriage & when they mentioned he had red hair I called out & said that was me much to their relief as i felt it going & jumped off. No one was hurt. A stall had ribbons which u paid for and chose one which u pulled and a prize would come up from behind a screen. Dad bought me a ticket & I won a packet of cigarettes. A man next to me won a Donald Duck toy with spring arms & legs with feet & hand on. I was upset so the man said he would swap me so I was happy to get Donald. I later took it to Ewart hospital to show Mum. My 12 year older sister told me I later buried it on Mum's Grave. I went in the Crazy House with the laughing sailor on the roof outside. There were slides etc and I went on a spinning circle (like a gramophone record) that got faster & faster throwing people off I was last as I sat ear the middle. Another one had a pole in the middle which went spun the reverse way to the bottom circle. I had a ride in the dodgems and the water dodgems which had rubber on the outside for crashing. My 16 year older than me brother went on the Jack & Jill going up in a carriage and was given a mat to slide down on and at the bottom was an endless belt that one ended the slide on. Some people were burnt as they came off the mat. The crazy house was fun with rolling tunnels, wind blowing skirts up, different slides etc. Many years later I saw The engine of the train at a place called Luna Park near the Wgtn Opera House (a slot machine etc Place)I am now 81 & remember a lot about the centennial Exhibition & had a pass to go many times.We lived in Miramar
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