Roslyn, Palmerston North

Richter, Nannestad & Co., a sawmilling company, acquired and cleared the vast deep forested area northeast of Palmerston North. In 1879, the company owned 600 acres of land in the area between Vogel Street, North St, Boundary Rd (now Tremaine Ave) and Featherston Street.[2]

In 1900, Robert Price Edwards established a brick-making business at the site of the current Edwards Pit Park, He constructed the Hoffman Kiln at the site in 1904, which could fire 9,000 brings in a single chamber using clay that was dug from the site. The kiln building is now a protected heritage building.[3]

In 1902, Charles Mackintosh Ross, founder of Rosco (CM Ross and Co) purchased land in the east end of Featherston Street and built a house in 1908, Rangimarie (still extant). In 1924, Ross died, the property passing to his wife (who lived at the house until her death thirty years later). In 1940, Mrs Ross sold land around Rangimarie to the Government, which became the basis of a new state house subdivision. The Government later purchased more land nearby.[2]

The area was known as Ross Block until 1948, when it was renamed Roslyn. Unfortunately, when the Post Office was established here, there was already a Roslyn in Dunedin. Therefore, the Terrace End-Roslyn Progressive Association had to find another name for the area. Rossmont was chosen because of the location; the fact the area is higher up from the rest of Palmerston North. Recently, perhaps because of the local primary school, the name Roslyn has resurfaced.[2]

The area now Roslyn has been known under many names including Ross Block, Ross, Rossmont and Terrace End. Until recently Statistics New Zealand identified those who live in Roslyn as it is now, lived in Terrace End. Terrace End as it is now, was known as Brightwater.[2]

Roslyn has a community policing centre and fire station, a community pool, a local pub, and numerous shops. There is a large agricultural zone which manufactures concrete and plastic pipes, agricultural feed, distributing hubs, car parts are present also.

Terrace End Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Palmerston North, is located at the foot of Vogel Street. Almost 10,000 people have been buried in the cemetery since Rangitāne gifted the land to the fledgling Palmerston No[4] rth settlement in 1875. Plots are now closed, but the descendants of those buried at the cemetery can be buried with their relatives.

Skogland Park, a football park, is named after former MP Phil Skoglund.[5]

Vautier Park, a former Edwards Brick and Pipes quarry site and Palmerston North's main outdoor netball park, is named for Catherine Vautier, a former teacher at QEC who was instrumental in the formation of Manawatu Netball.[6]

Edwards Pit Park, a former Brick and Pipes site and former soccer ground, has been redeveloped with native trees, waterways and paths.[3]

Norton Park, which features a wetland and the remnants of Little Kawau Stream.[7]

Hulme Street Reserve is also located in Roslyn.[8]

Many Roslyn street names are named after well-known writers or Victoria Cross recipients.

Roslyn was formerly a part of the Papaioea Ward of the Palmerston North City Council, alongside neighbouring Milson, Papaioea, Palmerston North Hospital Area and Kelvin Grove.

Prior to 1996, Roslyn north and east of Featherston Street was part of the Manawatu electorate, while Roslyn south of Featherston Street was in Palmerston North electorate. The entire suburb is now part of the Palmerston North electorate and Māori electorate of Te Tai Hauāuru.

Freyberg High School, a co-educational state high school,[9] is located in Roslyn.[10] with a roll of 1137 as of March 2020.[11] It includes the Whakatipuria Teen Parent Unit.[12]

Roslyn School is a co-educational state contributing primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[13][14] with a roll of 359 as of March 2020.[15]

Ross Intermediate is a co-educational state intermediate school for Year 7 to 8 students,[16][17] with a roll of 610 as of March 2020.[18]

St Mary's School is a co-educational state integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 6 student,[19][20] with a roll of 180 as of March 2020.[21]

• Former MP Steve Maharey (Labour) spent some of his early life in Roslyn