Chew Chong's Villa (1902)

This villa was originally constructed during 1902 as the home of well-known New Plymouth surveyor Thomas Gore Sole, a permit for the construction of a 'cottage' on Town Section 2084 being issued to Sole on 11 November 1902; Albert Arthur Pikett is noted as the architect/builder, with the house having an estimated construction value of £405.

The house was later purchased during May 1913 by prominent New Plymouth citizen Chew Chong; it seems this villa was his town house, with his other residence located at upper Vogeltown, on the Carrington Road (on the western side, just after the Brooklands Road round-about).

Chew Chong died in 1920 whilst in residence at this villa. Ownership of the house later passed to his wife and two of his sons, with the villa remaining in the Chong family until 1961.

See: CT TN15/89 (prior to 1902 subdivision); CT TN50/145 (post 1902 subdivision); DP1914

Related item:

Draft Heritage Assessment, Chew Chong's Villa (Former), 272 Courtenay Street New Plymouth (Hamish Crimp)