New Plymouth Buildings
The architectural make-up of New Plymouth since European settlement stretches from the early cottages of the1840s to the shiny steel-plated exterior of the planned Len Lye Centre. In between has come the transition from timber buildings to concrete, the art deco of the 1930s and the modernism of the 1960s. While a few private residences remain from the early days of European settlement, the Central Business District looks nothing like early paintings and photos. The early wooden buildings have mostly been demolished or destroyed by fire to be replaced by larger reinforced concrete premises. Both commercial and domestic buildings feature in this topic, which can be searched either by the age of the building or its location.
If you would like to contribute to this basket you are welcome to register and add items yourself or contact the staff in the Taranaki Research Centre at Puke Ariki.
Explore New Plymouth Buildings on the map below - buildings in blue are still standing in their original location; those in red have been either demolished or shifted outside New Plymouth District/to an unknown location; those in purple have been relocated within New Plymouth District.
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Latest 5 topics
2018 View: By Hamish Crimp
In the mid-1950s a decision was made to combine at Moturoa the cool store operations of the Taranaki Producers' Freezing Works (New Plymouth), and the West Coast Refrigerating Company (Patea). The merger was required to ensure the Patea Works remained competitive, with the town's small river port necessitating the use of smaller coastal ships to take produce first to Wellington, where it would then be transferred to larger ships for international transit. This situation resulted in increased transport
2018 View: By Hamish Crimp
In June 1908 the Taranaki Education Board accepted the surrender of Mrs Alice Gilmour's lease of Town Sections 582 and 583, and instead issued separate leases for each section. Mrs Gilmour continued to lease Section 583, whilst Section 582 was transferred to Torquil Vavasour Mackay.
A permit was granted by the New Plymouth Borough Council to Alice Gilmour on 16th January 1909 for the construction of a residence in Wallace Place - R. Wallath
2017 View: By Hamish Crimp
This attractive corner bay villa was constructed in 1909, and was originally the home of New Plymouth businessman James Scanlan and his family.
This area of Town Belt C was originally subdivided into smaller suburban sections for J. C. George in 1893. Allotments 19 and 20 at the corner of Victoria Road and George Street were later purchased by Mrs Mary Lewis, who had them subdivided in April 1909.
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A permit was granted to dentist Herbert V. Lunn on the 1 September 1922 for the construction of a house on Lot 1 of 12, Smith Street (later renamed Huatoki Street) - Lunn was listed as the builder, and the estimated construction cost was £750.
2017 View: By Hamish Crimp
This attractive villa residence was for many years the home of William George Berridge and his family.
Berridge seems to have shifted to Vogeltown about 1907-08, and it is thought the present villa was probably constructed around this date - Berridge first appears as residing in Vogeltown in the 1909 edition of Stones Street Directory, and is first rated for water to a house on Pt Section 60, Vogeltown, during the 1908-09 rating year.
