Images From the 1950s

Queen on Royal Train 1953/1954 New Zealand Tour

A 1950s Pub in a NZ County Town

Audrey Hepburn in the film 'Roman Holiday', which was released in 1953

Levin 1948

1950s Country School

1950s Picnic

1950s Housewife

Farmers wearing their 1950s Hats

A description of travelling on the main trunk line from Wellington to Auckland.

Then followed the dimly-lit, meat-pie journey to Auckland, in a shelf-like top bunk ... Breath soot-high; voices when the train stopped, voices sharp and clear as footsteps walking the platform of the station; steam clouding like cotton wool; heavy-eyed sleep, eyelids sealed with specks of soot. Then early morning, cold clothes with too many arm and feet holes, a fawn railway-coloured, blanket-coloured biscuit; tea; a newspaper. And then, at the end of the jolting heaving journey ... a slow, measured halting, and in the scatter of people waiting, promising cars and warm homes, crying welcome from Auckland Station.

From 'State of Seige' by Janet Frame