Located on a small hill above the eastern end of Courtenay Street, this attractive villa clad in rusticated weatherboard is in largely original condition, retaining its sash windows and chimney.
Town Section 2071 was purchased by G. M. White from William Courtney in March 1902. Later, a permit was granted by the Borough Council to Mr G. White on 9 June 1902, for the construction of a residence on Town Section 2071 Courtenay Street - Frank Messenger is noted as the architect, and the estimated construction cost was £500.
The property was purchased by Carthew in 1906, and then by M. M. Pike in January 1908. Miss Pike had the home converted into a private maternity hospital called 'Hinemoa' soon after this date, with the Auckland Weekly News publishing images of the home in October 1908. The home was extended in 1910, with a permit granted by the Borough Council to Miss Pike on 15 February 1910 for a 'Private Hospital' on Town Sections 2071 and 2072 - Frank Messenger was again the architect, and the estimated construction cost was £530. It is unclear if this addition still exists.
When a Herald reporter was invited to view the extended hospital in October 1910, he held low expectations for the standard of the facility, because "... in the case of private hospitals or nursing homes a lower standard is only to be expected". However, the reporter was quite surprised to find "... a hospital which compared favourably with the most up-to-date establishments". The twelve rooms were "well furnished and provided with electric light, electric heaters, and, in fact, with all the appliances which have been devised to abolish dust and dirt without sacrifice of the comfort which is particularly welcome in times of illness".
Whilst Miss Pike closed the maternity hospital in October 1919 owing to ill health, she retained ownership of the property until at least 1928.
This villa makes an important contribution to the streetscape, has strong social history values as a former maternity hospital, and was designed by one of New Plymouth's most important architects, Frank Messenger.
Town Section 2071, Taranaki Land Deeds Index I5 page 139.
Hinemoa Maternity Hospital (Former), 240 Courtenay Street New Plymouth, Draft Heritage Assessment (Hamish Crimp).
Related plan:
Taranaki DP1657 Sheet 1 (1901), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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