This building facing King Street sits on the same title as the one behind it on Devon Street West.
It was designed by Thomas H. Bates and erected in 1928 for the New Plymouth businessman, J.W. Kurta. A building permit was issued on 1 March, 1928 and the contractor was F. Grayling. The estimated cost was £2,475. The building behind it facing Devon Street West was also built for Kurta.
The building was finished in September 1928 and the Taranaki Daily News headed a report about it with the words "New Route to the Library". The building featured an 'arcade', a first for New Plymouth providing locals with direct access to the public library in King Street from Devon Street. Occupying the entire building was the department store Halliwell's, a feature of which was the new toy department, said to be the most complete in town.
In a photograph taken in 1941 by Fred Butler the name Macduffs Ltd. can be seen on the verandah of the building. Macduffs Ltd. were a Wellington-based company specialising in 'china and fancy goods'. In 1937 they amalgamated with Shillings Ltd. to establish a new company with 15 stores throughout the country. Shillings Ltd. had a store in Devon Street (and also facing King Street) and it appears this was re-branded as Macduffs Ltd.
Related items:
Town Section 646, Taranaki Land Deed Index I5 Page 249. (Archives New Zealand)
Taranaki (Lot 3) DP1691 (1901), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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