Scope and Contents From the Item: Album containing 114 photographs of early Invercargill and surrounds. The location of the original negatives is unknown, but prints of many of the images can be found in other collections around the country. Some of the photographers have been identified but are largely unknown.See the Southland Times 9th and 10th of December 1924 'Years of Change' special report which features many of the photographs alongside updated views from 1924.Numbers drawn in ink...

Overview Montague Bolger was born in Christchurch in 1910. Mentions his Irish grandparents meeting on the journey to New Zealand and subsequently having four sons. Notes that his parents John and Ethel had six sons. Recalls his father's employment at Costers coal mine, the Mataura Freezing Works and on their farm on the Mataura Winton road. Describes attending the Mataura School and leaving at the age of fourteen. Talks about working as engine driver at Rowes coal mine where his father was manager....

Overview Rowland talks of background history of life in Riverton in the early 1920s and attending ‘Tech’ in Invercargill for 3 years. He lists the fishing fleet, recalls the Riverton Regattas, as well as the businesses in Riverton. On leaving school he went into the family business. He tells of the personalities who worked at the sawmill - local people who had lifelong employment there. He covers the working conditions and the steam engines built by Johnson’s Steam Engines in Invercargill. Rowland also...

Scope and Contents Image is taken standing on a railway car looking south along the railway lines with the Invercargill Station to the left. An engine J118 and several workers can be seen.