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Colin Gibbs Collection

Content & arrangement

Archives TypeRecordsScope & contentThis collection covers different aspects of Colin Gibbs' working and public life, chiefly as manager of Hazelwoods.
The papers include broad financial records and promotional activities, but do not include any staff records (Mr Gibbs believes that these have been destroyed).
There are also papers reflecting his involvement with town planning and as a Borough Councillor. A small amount of material concerns his involvement with Radio Windy.
Earlier family business involvement is reflected in the minutes of the Hazel Woods (N.Z.) Ltd. business from Christchurch. These records and those dating from the earlier business of J A Hazelwood & Co have been processed as separate collections.
Organisation & ArrangementThe records were received in considerable disorder and treated for silverfish and borer infestations. There is a small amount of water damage.The records had been gathered from different areas within the Hazelwoods building.The records had been used as a resource for historical displays. Two boxes in particular contained a variety of records and appeared to be displays which had been drawn from other records and left together when the display was dismantled.It has not been possible to re-create the original order of records completely.There is some evidence of a previous filing system in folders beginning c 1955, but there appear to be large gaps in the records and several folders have been re-used for different subjects. At some stage a system based on small boxes appears to have replaced the folder system. (e.g. series A13/8 boxes, contains folders from series A13/7 folders, as well as other loose records).There are a number of labelled envelopes but it is not clear how they related to other records and they have not been treated as a record series.Photographs have been removed, stored separately, and described individually on the Photographs database. Series references should be used when searching the Photographs database, if users wish to re-create the original order in which photographs were received.

Photos

Christmas parade 1977; spectators on Hazelwoods carpark, Queen Street.

Christmas parade 1977; Heretaunga Players 3

Christmas parade 1977; Spinners and Weavers

Christmas parade 1977; spectators, Queen Street.

Christmas parade 1977; pipe band 3.

Christmas parade 1977; swimming club 2

Christmas Parade 1977; pipe band 2

Christmas parade 1977; Miss Maidstone Mall, Vicky McCauley 3 on 'Flintstones' car.

Christmas parade 1977; Miss Maidstone Mall, Vicky McCauley 2

Christmas parade 1977; Māwai Hakona 2

Christmas parade 1977; Māwai Hakona 1

Christmas parade 1977; swimming club 1.

Maidstone Pool; picture 8 from a contact sheet of eight.

Maidstone Pool; picture 7 from a contact sheet of eight.

Maidstone Pool; picture 6 from a contact sheet of eight.

Maidstone Pool; picture 5 from a contact sheet of eight.

Maidstone Pool; picture 4 from a contact sheet of eight.

Maidstone Pool; picture 3 from a contact sheet of eight.

Maidstone Pool; picture 2 from a contact sheet of eight.

Maidstone Pool; picture 1 from a contact sheet of eight.

Wellington; hillside stairway and hillside houses. [P3-394-1503]

Hazelwoods; proof sheet 12 images of women in knitted garments.

Featherston Street, Wellington, looking south from near Panama Street.

Ephemera

Hazelwoods Christmas Mailer; 1957

Hazelwoods Vono flyer, October 1963

Hazelwoods bicycle flyer, May 1964

Hazelwoods Women's Day promo, June 1972

Hazelwoods 68th birthday brochure, October 1961

Hazelwoods Crown Lynn competition, 1964

Hazelwoods Christmas booklet, 1971

Hazelwoods Women's Day promotional booklet, June 1961

Hazelwoods Women's Day booklet, June 1964

Hazelwoods Women's Day flyer, June 1966

Hazelwoods Women's Day promotional booklet, June 1962

Hazelwoods Women's Day flyer, June 1971

Hazelwoods 66th birthday promotional booklet, October 1959

Bendon 'Fitting Room Choice' competition, Hazelwoods, 1968

Hazelwoods Christmas booklet, 1957

Hazelwoods Mother's Day booklet, late 1950s

Hazelwoods fashion supplement, 1960

Hazelwoods 'select and wear' competition, 1972

Hazelwoods birthday sale

Hazelwoods Christmas booklet, 1958

Hazelwoods sale flyer, 1958

Hazelwoods summer sale flyer, 1973

Hazelwoods Christmas booklet, 1958

Manuscript

Letter from J.A. Hazelwood to Colin Gibbs, 1963

Hazelwoods staff list, 1972

Correspondence between J.A. Hazelwood and Colin Gibbs, December 1959

Colin Gibbs memoir

Details

Archive Reference13Quantityc3 linear metres

Provenance

HistoryColin Ogilvie Gibbs is the son of Elsie Gibbs (nee Ogilvie, 1897-1965; a Plunket nurse in the Upper Hutt valley 1925-1927) and Theodore Nisbet Gibbs (1896-19?), who lived and had business interests in Christchurch. He was managing-director of MacDuffs department stores when he assessed Hazelwoods as a possible buy for the chain. Although an unsuitable purchase for MacDuffs, T.N. Gibbs decided to invest in it personally.

In September 1944, T.N. Gibbs purchased Hazelwoods store in Main Street Upper Hutt from the partnership of J T Benge and J A Hazelwood (the founder). At this time J A Hazelwood & Co was a private company with a variety of departments serving the farming and residential areas surrounding Upper Hutt.

Colin Gibbs trained as an accountant in Wellington and gained experience in retailing in Australia where he worked for several years in Chatswood, Sydney, and married.

In 1954 he was appointed Assistant Manager of J A Hazelwood and Co Ltd. The bakery department was closed in 1955. In 1956 on the retirement of the manager, Mr Keith D Arthur. Colin Gibbs became Manager.

In 1964/5 additions to the building were built, including a mezzanine floor. At this time a coffee lounge and Travel and Sports departments were established.

In a 1966 survey, Hazelwoods was described as a "Departmental store" and the "chief products" were listed as "Home Appliances, Hardware, Furniture, Men's Wear, Mantles, Ladies and Men's Footwear, Cosmetics, Accessories, Manchester, Haberdashery, Grocery, Kitchenware, Babywear, College wear, Travel, China." (Reference: Upper Hutt City Library A26/1 E. - Survey material from Upper Hutt College research project into industrial development, 1966.)

In 1974 in anticipation of a pedestrian-only precinct in the centre of Main Street a roof-top carpark extension was built.
Retailing initiatives during these years included Womens Day promotions when the women on Hazelwoods staff "took over" store management for the last Friday in June, with accompanying specials, a Computer game...
From 198, in a move towards greater specialisation, several departments were sold:
Menswear was bought by Warnocks
Ladieswear was bought by Ballentynes
Travel-Variety was bought by Thomas Cook
Hardware was bought by Stewarts Hardware
The stock of the Furniture Dept was bought by Colin Gibbs' son Michael Gibbs who leased premises in the building as Hazelwoods Furniture Court.

As a member of the Upper Hutt Chamber of Commerce (on the Chamber's executive for 24 years) in the early 1960s Colin Gibbs was involved in planning for the town centre. He was elected to the Upper Hutt Borough Council 1962-1968 and became chair of the Planning Committee.

Mr Gibbs stood unsuccessfully for Wellington Regional Council in 1977? and 1980. He was involved with the Retailers Federation (becoming president), and was chair of Capital City Radio Ltd (Radio Windy) at its beginning. He represented Upper Hutt for six years on the Wellington Regional Planning Authority and was a member of its economics committee.
Commercial buildings in which he had interests include;
Countdon, Queen Street (2000);

Series

Series13/1 Journal 1945-196313/2 Purchase journals 1955-195913/3 Ledger c1944-194713/4 Subject files - fastened c1943-197613/5 Subject files - loose c1959-197313/6 Boxes c1970-198013/7 Advertising pamphlets 1957-196013/8 Display collection 1 c1944-196313/9 Display collection 2 c1960-198013/10 Photograph albums c1960-198013/11 Framed items13/12 Scrapbook c1973-197513/13 Retailers' Federation material13/14 Loose correspondence

Items

Item Listing13/1 Journal 1945-1963

13/2/1 Purchases Journal 1955-1959
13/2/2 Purchases Journal 1981-1983

13/3/1 Ledger c1944-1947
13/3/2 Ledger contents, 1907-1947
13/3/3 Loose correspondence with ledger, 1933-1963

SERIES 13/4 Subject files - fastened c1943-1976
13/4/1 J.A. Hazelwood & Co. Ltd. Balance sheets 1941-1966
13/4/2 [Share Certificates] 1944-1960
13/4/3 Share Transfers 1943-1970
13/4/4 Inland Revenue Dept. 1959-1968
13/4/5 The everyday book of share certificates 1944-1960. 1 blue stapled booklet.
13/4/6 Share certificate, loose, unsold. (24 certificates)

Series 13/5 Subject files - loose c1959-1973
13/5/1 Hazelwoods History, re-foldered into Calendar Data c.1963
13/5/2 Computer game c. 1976
13/5/3 Make'n Model 1969
13/5/4 Womens Day [1969-1973]'
13/5/5 Womens Day 1971
13/5/6 Womens Day - advertising [1967-1969]
13/5/7 Womens Day 1972
13/5/8 Womens Week - Womens Liberation Week [1973?]
13/5/9 Colin 1972-1973
13/5/10 Mr T.N. Gibbs J.A.Hazelwood and Co. 1959-1965 [Re share transfers, contains "Hazelwoods and the future?", 30 Nov 1960]
13/5/11 [Loose papers from under 13/7/10 and possibly associated with it from the contents]

Series 13/6 Boxes c1970-1980
13/6/1 Car park building. Wilkins & Davies contract, 1975
13/6/1/1 G. W. Bennett building reports c1960’s.
13/6/1/2 “specifications of work to be done and material supplied in the construction of new building for J. A. Hazelwood & Co. Ltd., Upper Hutt” Wilkins & Davies Construction Co. Ltd. 1973-75.
13/6/1/3 Hill Stapleton Edridge and Assoc... “Specifications Proposed additions for J. A. Hazelwood & Co. Ltd., Upper Hutt” 1973-75; Wilkins & Davies Construction Co. Ltd. Correspondence, 1973-75.
13/6/1/4 J. A. Hazelwood & Co. Ltd. New building. Legal Upper Hutt City Council 1973-75; Wilkins & Davies Construction Co. Ltd.
13/6/1/5 Wilkins & Davies Construction Co. Ltd correspondence and plans 1973-74.
13/6/1/6 Wilkins & Davies Construction Co. Ltd correspondence and plans 1973-76.
13/6/2 Upper Hutt Town Planning - historical actions, c1970-1980
13/6/2/1 File not located in July 2023 AW.
13/6/2/2 Upper Hutt’s Town Plan. E W Nicolaus, Mayor. Book stamped March 1940.
13/6/2/3 Upper Hutt City District Scheme. Recommended Review to Number 2...1971. Book.
13/6/2/4 “City developments” Newspaper cuttings. 1 folder. “Borough of Upper Hutt reviewed District Scheme 1965”. 1 book.
13/6/2/5 “Upper Hutt Chamber of Commerce, City council, Wellington Regional Planning Authority, etc.” c1960-70’s. 1 folder.
13/6/2/6 Upper Hutt Chamber of Commerce, City council, Wellington Regional Planning Authority, Jaycees etc.” c1960’s. 1 folder.
13/6/2/7 Upper Hutt Chamber of Commerce, City council, Wellington Regional Planning Authority, etc.” c1960’s. 1 folder. Includes booklet “Upper Hutt’s Plan for Growth, 1963”.
13/6/3 [Upper Hutt Town Planning - historical actions], c1960-1970
13/6/4 Tax returns, c1970-1980 Contains 7 folders:
1. "Annual accounts, 1976"
2. "Annual accounts, 31 Mar 1976"
3. "Sales budget - summer 1975"
4. [Re pricing regulations, 1975]
5. [Financial statements, 1975-1976]
6. [Financial records, c1973]
7. Clippings, 1970-1973

13/7 Advertising pamphlets, 1957-1960

Series 13/8 Display collection 1 c1944-1963
13/8/1 Three advertising catalogues for Women's Days, 25 June 1965 or later, 26 June 1964, and 21 June (1963?)
13/8/2 Advertising pamphlets folder listed separately as 13/7
13/8/3 Photographs stuck to folded cardboard mount (J.A. Hazelwood at party) [Also processed individually onto photographs database]
13/8/4 Loose photographs and photocopies. [Also processed individually onto photographs database]
13/8/5 Handwritten transcript of interview with Clarrie Murray, employee at Hazelwoods 1952-c1957
13/8/6 Stationery items - wrapping paper, memo forms, business card for Michael Gibbs. Hazelwoods wrapping paper sheets (2).
Annual accounts to year ending 31st March 1979 Hazelwoods of Upper Hutt, Cover Page. 1 yellow cover page. 1 memo pad “From Hazelwoods”

13/8/7 Aerial photograph of Upper Hutt
13/8/8 Upper Hutt Leader issue for 8 April 1948
13/8/9 Photocopies of 13/11/1 (disposed of) and 15/2 Sales comparisons book, 1923-1936, (see J.A. Hazelwood & Co. Collection).
13/8/10 Advertising ephemera (clippings)

Series 13/9 Display collection 2 c1960-1980
13/9/1 Photograph album
13/9/2 Folder - "photographic records". [Also processed individually onto photographs database]
13/9/3 Envelope containing photographs, marked "Parades / Promotions" [Also processed individually onto photographs database]
13/9/4
Envelope containing photographs, marked "Personal Stuff"
13/9/5 Loose photographs, some dated, c1960-1980. [Also processed individually onto photographs database]
13/9/6 Women's Day catalogues 1964, 25 June 1971, 21 June 19?
13/9/7 Newspaper clippings 1973-1974, also statement by C. Gibbs on not standing for re-election to UHCC (n.d.)
13/9/8 Envelope containing small size photographs. [Also processed individually onto photographs database]

13/9/9 Large folder titled "Hazelwoods Securities Limited Investor Account Number Register"but actually containing assortment of clippings, advertisements, and photographs [processed individually onto photographs database]
13/9/10 Civil & Civic Pty Ltd Survey of shopping centre potential Upper Hutt City : Initial Retail Market Survey for Hazelwoods Shopping Centre, June 1971

13/9/12 Cover (empty) for folder "United Stores Society Ltd.. Secretaries Conference 2-4/5/1977 Hazelwoods Welcome" [Processed individually onto photographs database]

Series 13/10 Photograph albums c1960-1980
13/10/1 Photograph album c1980-1989
See also 13/9/1 above

Series 13/11 Framed items [All except 13/11/8 removed from frames]
13/11/1 Certificate of acknowledgement from staff on occasion of retirement of J.A. Hazelwood and J.T. Benge, September 1944. Framed by H.D. Benge, 30 Ebdentown St., Upper Hutt.
Gives names and years of service. Location 37i.
13/11/2 Photograph of J.A. Hazelwood
[Processed individually onto photographs database]
13/11/3 Photograph of J.A. Hazelwood & Co. Ltd. shop Main Street Upper Hutt [Processed individually onto photographs database]
13/11/4 Photograph of T.N. Gibbs [Processed individually onto photographs database]
13/11/5 Laminated advertisement from Upper Hutt Leader 13 November 1996 detailing history of Hazelwoods.
13/11/6 Certificate from Retail and Wholesale Merchants Association of NZ Inc.
Top Shop 196- entrant nomination acknowledgement.
13/11/7 Certificate acknowledging that Hazelwoods are a Gold Club participant in "Friends of Victim Support in Upper Hutt, 1996-1997"
13/11/8 Large framed photograph of J.A. Hazelwood & Co. Ltd. premises, Main Street, ATL F22293 1/2. Includes names. Frame retained. [Processed individually onto photographs database]

13/12 Scrapbook of newspaper clippings re Radio Windy, c1973-1975
13/13 Retailers' Federation material
13/14 Miscellaneous
1. Loose correspondence, 1979-1997
2. Folder titled Wgtn Publishing Co - actually contains clippings 1967 and 1970 re Mr Len Rink of Silverstream, Santa Claus at Hazelwoods, 3 cards for "Hazel" the computer prize machine game, 2 staff photos [Processed individually onto photographs database], advertisement for electric blanket, 1-page radio advertising contract with NZBC dated 7 June 1972, and blank accounts stationery.
3. Envelope titled "Hazelwoods store front before and after 1965 alterations - contained 3 photographs [Processed individually onto photographs database] and a newspaper clipping from the Dominion.
13/14/4 Folder of newspaper clippings to do with the implementation of Saturday shopping, as well as address by Neil Johansen & other engineering information.

13/15 Miscellaneous
Accession: 2020/4
1. Manila folder containing correspondence between J.A. Hazelwood, Ethel May Poulson, T.N. Gibbs and Colin Gibbs; hand-drawn notice on card about the store closure to commemorate the death of Elsie Gibbs.
2. Manila folder containing correspondence relating to a service lane between Hazelwoods’ properties
3. Clear plastic folder containing papers about Trentham City Shopping Centre; material about the proposed civic centre, 1965; items relating to Neil Johansen
4. Papers relating to Countdown Upper Hutt supermarket
5. Correspondence and invoices related to Upper Hutt City Developments Ltd
6. Miscellaneous papers including items relating to Chamber of Commerce; material relating to Trentham City Shopping Centre; correspondence; photos; Hazelwoods marketing material; items relating to Expressions; submission to Council; information re Hazelwoods staff and pay rates; newspaper clippings
7. Colin Gibbs Memoir. (1 photocopy)

Access & use

RestrictionsAll records containing material dated 1970 or later are restricted until 2005 subject to approval from Mr Colin Gibbs. August 2005: Restriction lifted in accordance with donor's instructions.

About

PeopleGibbs, Colin OgilvieOrganisationsHazelwoodsSubjectBusinessAdvertisementsCommercial buildingsShopping

About the original

LocationOffsite; 8c-d (formerly 20a-d); 37i.Accession0267Custodial historyMost of the records were transferred as one accession after preliminary visits by the archivist to establish their value. They were gathered together for this purpose by Colin Gibbs, into an office upstairs in the Hazelwoods premises. The records had previously been in various locations within the building.

A further, smaller set of miscellaneous papers were accessioned as 2020/4 in January 2020.