Kete New Plymouth

In the 1890s, before Eltham had its own council, residents formed a Vigilance committee to represent their interests to government. George Washington Tayler was the chairman. In 1901, when the town became a borough, Tayler was elected Eltham’s first mayor.

His parents were from England but he was born in New York, in 1858. When his family came to New Zealand in 1863 they settled in Canterbury. At the age of 29, Tayler moved to Eltham to open a new store for the general merchant, R.A. Adams.

Baring Tce runs from Northgate across Devon St East and continues until it comes to an end at the railway overbridge which leads down to the East End Skating Arena.

When Frederic Carrington drew his first plan of New Plymouth, Baring Tce formed the eastern boundary of the town. It follows the contours of the Henui River and is one of the few roads not conforming to the grid pattern that Carrington favoured for the new settlement. One of the most progressive features of Carrington's original

When this short road in Westown was first surveyed in January 1908 the name chosen for it was MacLean. On the same survey map, nearby Massey St also had a different name: Watson.

However, by the time the first houses were built some 10 years later, the names of two New Zealand politicians had replaced the original choices. As New Plymouth already had a McLean St in Strandon perhaps it was decided that two such similar names would be too confusing?

English-born Richard John Seddon

Puke Ariki volunteer, David Harrop, has researched New Plymouth's railway history: the original line and why it was moved in 1907, the stations, the railway bridges and footbridges, as well as some of the old engines.

Please use the links below to explore the different topics.

New Plymouth's First Railway

The Post 1907 Route

The Railway Stations

The Footbridges

Old Engines

How Camberwell Road got its name is uncertain today. The best guess is an early settler in the area came from the suburb of Camberwell in London.

It hasn’t always been named Camberwell Road. Before the 1930s, Vogel Street extended north to Surrey Street, dividing King Edward Park and Bayly Park. During the late 1930s the piece of road was given its Camberwell name.

North of the Surrey Street intersection, the road was sub-divided for housing from the early 1900s. South of the intersection was very different.