New mural celebrates Hastings' rural past

The artwork, painted by Brandon Blair of Crimson Flower Ltd., is part of Hastings District Council’s central city vibrancy enhancements.

Located at 206 Queen St West, the artwork tells the story of the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Co-op Association garage, and some of the people who worked there.

The Association started selling cars in 1912 from their Napier garage and at A&P shows. They were agents for Overaland and Hupmobile, then added Buicks to the range in 1914.

Records from 1925 showed the Association had a building on the corner of Market and Queen Streets – a retail store, offices and machinery story (which burned down in 1929) and was replaced by the building that sits on the corner today.

Next door was a large warehouse, which no longer stands today, the back of which was occupied by the Co-p for implement storage and a workshop. In 1925, the Association revealed plans to build a garage on this site to sell and service Buicks.

By 1929, the Hawke’s Bay Farmers Co-op Association garage was advertising its General Motors dealership connection with new Buicks and Chevrolets for sale. These American cars were shipped to New Zealand as parts, and assembled in Petone, Wellington.

The Hawke’s Bay Farmers Association ceased to exist by the 1990s and the former garage building went into various private ownerships.

Hastings District Council public spaces planning manager Rachel Stuart says the mural is an exciting addition to the enhancements that are being carried out to revitalise the city centre.

“It’s a wonderful snapshot of a piece of our history as a city, which honours our rural contribution, that has also added some colour and interest to this part of Queen Street,” Stuart says.

Hastings District Council took ownership of the building in 2019 and will soon be consulting with the community on the future uses of the site that will contribute to the vibrancy of the city.