Story: Women’s networks and clubs

Tearooms, 1906

Tearooms, 1906

Two women (possibly the proprietors, Frances Old and Annie Telford) take a break from work to have a cup of tea at the Alexandra Tearooms in Gisborne. At this time, tearooms were among the few venues where respectable women could meet outside their own homes and chat over tea, coffee and light refreshments. These small cafés, which became more common in towns and cities from the 1890s, were often run by women.

Using this item

Tairawhiti Museum, Te Whare Taonga O Te Tairawhiti
Reference: Alexandra Tearooms 1906 WFC ¼ 4855
Photograph by William Crawford

Permission of Tairawhiti Museum, PO Box 716, Gisborne, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Women’s networks and clubs - Social and friendship networks', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/30993/tearooms-1906 (accessed 17 April 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 15 Jul 2018