This home originally started life as a villa constructed for, and designed by, New Plymouth builder W. F. Brooking, with plans for a "residence" on Part Town Section 693 (the original villa) granted by the Borough Council in early January 1910 - estimated cost £520. Parts of the original villa can still be seen, and are particularly noticeable on the Robe Street frontage.
Ian Pritchard, in his book about Frank Messenger, notes that additions and alterations were undertaken on this property by the firm Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor. A permit was issued on 4 May 1927 for this work, the builder was G.M. Bennett and the estimated cost £900. The client was Dr. P. C. Davie.
In the late 1980s the property was the New Plymouth premises of Budget Rent a Car franchise.
The tree on the Robe Street boundary (seen in the 2011 photographs) is a Eucalyptus Ficifola or Scarlett Gum - it was removed in 2012.
Legal description: 19 Robe Street, Pt Lot 1 DP 4706 (Part of Town Section number 693)
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