A Photo History of Thistle Hall | Thistle Hall

1907 – 1924 William Campbell’s Oriental Tea Mart

Architectural plans for William Campbell's Oriental Tea Mart, 1907.

Pricelist for William Campbell's first Oriental Tea Mart on Manners Street.

'C stands for Campbell, whose groceries are best.' From The Rhyming Trades Alphabet, educational advertising booklet c. 1914.

Campbell's store on Manners Street looking west, c. 1928

A crowd on Cuba Street in 1918.

1924 - 1951 The Empire Hall

The social committee of the Watersiders' Football Club carnival-themed dance advertisement in the Evening Post, 1927.

Children play outside Star Stores, below Thistle Hall, in the 1940s.

1951 – 1979 thistle hall – WASS (association of Scottish societies)

'Dine and dance' cardsfrom the Association of Celtic Societies (1962) were found tucked into the lining of a Thistle Hall wall, 2005.

Wellington Gaelic Club 1979-1980.

Two girls trying to eat the treacle scone on Halloween.

Andy Robertson stands to the right watching the pipers.

Games at the children's christmas party lunch.

1979 – 1981 Punk & Protest

Domestic Blitz, the Wallsockets, Shoes This High, and the Spies played one New Year's Eve at Thistle Hall.

The Wallsockets, Ambitious Vegetables and Industrial House Plans and Specifications at Thistle Hall, 1979.

Handmade poster advertising one of three 'Rock against Racism' gigs at Thistle Hall in 1981.

Gaz (left) and Bump(right) manned the door at 'Rock against Racism', featured on the front page of the Dominion, 3rd July 1981.

Thistle Hall with BOC Sign-writers below it, 1980s.

1983 – 1990s Save Our Streets

Thistle Hall in a derelict state, 1986.

Plan 9 Studio and to the right, 28 Arthur Street - the original Thistle Hall office, 2000.

The proprietor and Walter Cameron Cook stand outside Mr Smiles curio and second-hand shop, upper Cuba Street, 1986.

Gaffiti on Thistle Hall, 1986.

Tonks Avenue looking east, 2000.

Arthur Street looking east, 1986.

1990s Elbow Grease

Simone from SMUT, 1997.

Eli from SMUT, 1993.

Local hardcore band Tried for Treason, 2002.

SMUT poster, 1997.

SMUT poster, 1990s.

Punk poster, 1990s.

A stable focal point

Thistle Hall, 2000.

'No More Roads Please', Upper Cuba Street, 1996.

Johanna Sanders and Val Smith in a mud-wrestling anti-bypass performance, 1994.

Johanna Sanders and Val Smith in a mud-wrestling anti-bypass performance, 1994.

Anti-bypass poster, 2004.

Anti-bypass meeting organised by Campaign for a Better City, February 1998.

Flea markets and birthday parties, 2000.

Punters browse flea market stalls in the newly-renovated rooms downstairs, c 2003.

The ever-changing brown paper bag, monthly flea market posters, 2002-2004.

The ever-changing brown paper bag, monthly flea market posters, 2002-2004.

The ever-changing brown paper bag, monthly flea market posters, 2002-2004.

The ever-changing brown paper bag, monthly flea market posters, 2002-2004.

Just Teasing's 10th Anniversary party, 2004.

Thistle Hall 2007

Thistle Hall, looking east along Arthur Street, 2007.

Preview session of the 2007 Art Sale in the downstairs gallery space.

Johanna Sanders welcomes members of the public queuing for the Art Sale opening, 2007.

Opening night of the 2007 Art Sale.

Darryl Walker prepares for the impending frenzy, 2007.

Stuart Shepherd and purchase, 2006.

Record of a successful Art Sale, 2005.

Looking forward to another century

Earthquake strengthened upstairs hall, 2016.

View of Cuba Street form upstairs hall window, 2016.

Thistle Hall 2016.