This building was erected in 1907 as a warehouse for the wholesale company Macky, Logan, Caldwell and Co. The company was one of the largest wholesalers in the country and this New Plymouth branch was opened with the prospect of increasing business.
It was designed by Frank Messenger, and the contractors were Coleman and Son. The plumbing was done by Smart Bros, painting by Pillar and Bullot, and brickwork by Messrs Russell and Son. The cost was estimated to be £2,300.
On the evening of 27 September 1952 a ceremony was conducted to mark the opening of the commercial radio station 2XP in Taranaki. They broadcast from the first floor of this building until new premises across the road in upper Brougham Street were built in 1966.
On the 4 March, 1983, the building was destroyed by a large fire, and demolished the same day. At the time it was the premises of Bennett and Sutton Limited. A local landmark mounted outside the entrance, a bicycle, survived the fire and eventually in 1988, after the closure of the firm, was bought by Lynda and Mike Harnden to be displayed in their garden.
The section has been used as a private carpark since then. In 2003 a sculpture called, Halamoana, by Filipe Tohi, was erected near the Powderham intersection. The sculpture was commissioned and paid for by New Plymouth architect, Terry Boon. (Daily News 16 July 2003)
The sculpture was winched into place on the morning of 4 August 2003. (Daily News 5 August 2003)
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