'Faces' exhibition shows glimpses of Hastings past

7 September 2006

Faces from the past are the focus of a photographic exhibition on display in the Hastings Library between 9 and 22 September. 

Chosen from among the Hastings District Council’s historic image collection, the enlarged photographs offer glimpses of life in Hastings throughout the past hundred years. 

Council Archivist Chris Johnson said the photos on display had been chosen for the interesting faces they showed, though little was known about the circumstances surrounding some of them. 

“There’s a nice one there of what appears to be local riflemen, pre-World War One, quite stern and posed. Then at the other end of the scale we have a shot of boys waving and showing off for the camera, which the public have suggested was Hastings Boys’ High School not long after it opened.” 

Mr Johnson said the photographs were part of a collection made available on the Council’s website, www.hastingsdc.govt.nz, with the ability for the public to add information about them if they recognised a face or a scene. 

“The response has been great, some really interesting stories are coming out of the woodwork.”