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Story: Streets and lighting

Nelson council workers, 1890s

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Nelson council workers, 1890s

Nelson City Council street workers pose at the intersection of Trafalgar and Hardy streets in the 1890s. The contingent comprised sweepers (to clear horse dung and rubbish) and the drivers of three rubbish carts and a grader. Some municipalities also had watering carts to reduce summer street dust. On hot days packs of boys would follow the cart hoping to be drenched by the cooling water.

Using this item

Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio Collection

Reference: 180151/3

Permission must be sought from Nelson Provincial Museum before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Adrian Humphris, Streets and lighting – Street construction and surfaces, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/24484/nelson-council-workers-1890s (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Adrian Humphris, published 6 April 2010.