Young's Building (1925)

This building on the south-side of Rata Street was built for Robert Barr Young (1890-1971) in 1925; funded by a WWI Returned Soldier's loan. The building was designed by New Plymouth architects, Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor, with the plans held by Puke Ariki (ARC2013-055). The builders were well known New Plymouth firm Boon Bros Ltd.

Young set up business as a tailor on the ground floor and rented out the upper-storey. When he left to live in New Plymouth in the 1950s the ground floor shop became a tearoom, and later a fish shop. 

Part of the upper-storey was a dental surgery for many years. The first dentist was Mr Claude O'Carroll and he was followed by Mr Eben (Eb)Hamilton. Mr Joe Gibbs, a land agent and accountant, also had premises upstairs. He was followed by a succession of solicitors.

The building was bought by Colin Kilpatrick in 1986 and he carried out major alterations.