This building in Devon Street East was erected in 1940 for the company Building Investments Ltd. It was designed by well-known New Plymouth architect, Thomas H. Bates. (Plans held by Puke Ariki - ARC2004-1634)
A permit for the building was issued by the Borough Council on 11 June 1940 to the company for business premises on (Part) Town Section 900. The estimated value was £6,112 and the contractors were Boon Bros.
In April 1940 an old wooden building on the site - known locally as the "Green Mill" - was demolished to make way for the new Bates' designed building.
According to the Taranaki Herald (24 April 1940), the Green Mill was built in the early 1900s and was originally the Masonic Stables. Later, with the advent of the motorcar, it became a garage, run in the 1930s by Mr E.A. Elliott. Also in the 1930s, one section of the building housed the Green Mill miniature golf course.
Related items:
Town Section 900, Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 page 320 and I13 page 547. (Archives New Zealand)
Taranaki DP8009 Sheet 1 (1956), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Golf Played Indoors: Opening at New Plymouth (TDN 31 October 1930)
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