The first train trip from Gisborne to Napier, the landing of Charles Kingsford Smith’s historic Southern Cross aeroplane on Waikanae Beach and the 1947 tsunami are some of the significant local events that are depicted in this exhibition.

Captured by father and son photographers, Harold Berkley Tyerman and Ivan Warwick Tyerman, these images have been sourced from the recently donated Tyerman Collection.

Harold and Ivan Tyerman were pharmacists. Tyerman’s Pharmacy was initially established by Harold in Woodville, near the Manawatu Gorge, in 1922, and subsequently in various locations on Gladstone Road in Gisborne. Upon his father’s retirement, Ivan and his wife Annette (also a pharmacist) ran the pharmacy until 1995.

In the pre-digital era it was usual for amateur photographers to take their exposed films to a pharmacy or chemist for processing. The Tyermans had a darkroom on their premises and also sold photographic equipment. They provided printing services for many businesses from Wairoa through to Opotiki.

The Tyermans’ style of photography is more documentary than artistic, however their photographic skills produced images that contain a wealth of information. The photographs they have created are of vital importance to the historical record of this region, and are thus of great interest to historians and researchers. A number of the Tyermans’ images have been used to illustrate books, encyclopaedias and websites.

                                                        Opening of Gisborne to Napier rail line 1942.