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Story: Department stores and shopping malls

Tearoom waitresses

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Tearoom waitresses

Waitresses pose in the tearooms of C. M. Ross in Palmerston North, probably in the 1930s. Tearooms were an integral part of the department store. They usually served solid lunches as well as morning and afternoon teas, and had waitresses rather than counter service.

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Palmerston North City Library

Reference: 2007P_Bc301_WOR_0091

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How to cite this page

Helen Laurenson, Department stores and shopping malls – The heyday of department stores, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22201/tearoom-waitresses (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Helen Laurenson, published 4 February 2010.