The Camp House/Marsland Hill Barracks (1855 - re-erected 1891)

Originally erected as military barracks on Marsland Hill, New Plymouth, the Camp House is one of the oldest corrugated iron buildings in the world.

In 1855 the top of Marsland Hill was levelled to erect the pre-fabricated corrugated-iron barracks imported from Melbourne. For the following 15 years they were the headquarters of the British regiments stationed in New Plymouth and the centre of military operations in northern Taranaki.

Their erection was supervised by Colonel F.H. Baddeley, Royal Engineers and then surrounded by a timber palisade and earthworks. Other buildings in the hilltop complex included quarters for troops and married men, an officers' mess, a theatre, military hospital and signal station.

After the last regiment left in 1870, the barracks were occupied by a detachment of Armed Constabulary.

Between 1874 and 1880 the facilities were used as temporary accommodation for newly arrived immigrants from Britain and Europe.

In 1891 the barracks were demolished, but this section was transported to North Egmont where it served as tourist accommodation for many years.

The hand-wrought corrugated iron was probably made in Australia and gun slots may still be seen in some sheets. In the 1960s the original roof of corrugated iron was blown off in a windstorm.

Historic Place Category 1, Heritage New Zealand.  

Related documents and plans:

When Marsland Hill Was An Armed Fort and Plan, A.H. Messenger (Taranaki Herald 5 September 1953)

Camphouse Capers (Daily News 19 September 1998)

Work Starts on Historic Mountain Building Upgrade (Daily News 16 November 1998)

Piled Up - Entrance Stone Wall (Daily News 27 July 1999)

New Era Launched for Camphouse (Daily News 1 February 1999)

Taranaki SO8722 Sheet 1 Marsland Hill Barracks (1856-1870), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

'Old Mountain House' (Taranaki Herald and Budget - Christmas Supplement, 7 December 1929).