National Insurance Building (1938)

This two-storey masonry building in Brougham Street was built in 1938 for the National Insurance Company.

N.P.D.C. holds plans dated June 1937. The architects were John S. Swan and William E. Lavelle of Grey Street in Wellington. 

The contractor was W. Burr of Wellington, the electrical work was done by Smart Bros. (New Plymouth), painting by Tingeys (New Plymouth), with Sash & Door supplying all the cement, woodwork, joinery and office furniture.

The cafe, "Chaos", opened in the building in 2004.

Related items:

The energy behind Chaos (Taranaki Daily News 17 December 2013)

Hospitality Queen Bows Out (Taranaki Daily News 1 November 2023)

Town Section (Part) 668, Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 Page54 and I3 Page 492. (Archives New Zealand)

Taranaki DP809 Sheet 1 (1895), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP832 Sheet 1 (1901), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP4421 Sheet 1 (1923), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP5596 Sheet 1 (1936), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)