Baker Cottage (1922)

On November 17 1922 a building permit was issued to Herbert Charles Baker for this house on Standish Hill (Town Section 460). The builder was Albert Robinson and the estimated cost £1000.

The architects were Watson and Gooder, who called for tenders for the erection of a residence, in brick and wood, on Standish Hill, in late October 1922. Watson and Gooder were a Masterton partnership who seem to have opened an office in New Plymouth during late 1922; they were based in the New Zealand Insurance Building on Devon Street. After early 1923 no more is heard of the firm in New Plymouth, although they continued under the name Watson, Gooder and Lee in Wellington and Masterton. This is one of only two known buildings designed by the firm that were actually constructed in New Plymouth - the other being new premises for Sole Bros. at the corner of Devon and Currie Streets.

Herbert Baker was a furnisher with his own business, H.C. Baker & Co. It appears likely that the firm was established by his father Charles Baker, as advertisements for C. E. Baker and Co. feature in the Taranaki Herald.

Herbert and his wife Irene lived in the house for nearly forty years before moving to Pendarves Street. In the early 1960s it is likely the property was bought by the New Plymouth Hospital Board. Plans on file (N.P.D.C.), dated July 1962, indicate alterations to the house were carried out for New Plymouth Hospital - designed by Graeme Laurenson & Associates.

It's thought that the house is now owned by the Crown and might be part of the former Barrett Street Hospital site which has been "land-banked", pending a Treaty settlement with Te Ātiawa.

Related plan:

Plan of Part of the Education Reserves in New Plymouth DP655 (1894), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)