NZ History

[Dave Homewood]

A few weeks ago I was in Auckland, and as we drove through Royal Oak and stopped at lights, I noticed a branch of Harcourts real estate on the corner. It was obviously an old building though, because along the side there were, fairly high up and well protected by the verandah, some glass panels. They were painted glass Self Help signs, which used to be a chain of dairies in the 1930's and 1940's.

I was amazed to see these still intact and good as new, still on what obviously used to be a Self Help store branch. I don't know when the chain ceased to exist, but these looked at least the style of 1940's advertising, perhaps earlier.

Does anyone know more about them? Are these glass signs protceted in any way, maybe by the Historic Places Trust? I hope so.

I wish I'd gotten some pictures but I didn't have my camera.