New Plymouth Friendly Societies Dispensary Ltd. Building (1932)

A permit was issued to the New Plymouth Friendly Societies on 1 September 1932 for the construction of this Devon Street East building.

The builder was A.O. Brown and the estimated cost £1,850. The architects were Griffiths and Stephenson and the plans are in the archives at Puke Ariki. (ARC2008-197)

While the new building was being erected the society took up temporary premises in the King's Building. Their new building was ready in early December 1932. (TDN 3 December 1932). 

In 1976 the New Plymouth Friendly Societies' Dispensary Ltd (chemists) moved two doors down the hill to 38 Devon Street East - previously the premises of L.A. Nolan and Co. Ltd. The move, reported in The Daily News on 14 June 1976 was due to a growth in trade and the need for more space. The newspaper reported that this site was previously owned by Mr.H. Honnor who ran a saddlery business. It also said part of the building was a sweet shop with its own factory in an excavated basement.

The New Plymouth Friendly Societies Dispensary Ltd. was formed as a co-operative venture by the city's friendly society lodges in 1921. The original aim was to give lodge members a better facility for purchasing pharmaceutical supplies but its scope broadened considerably and in 1976 was the same as any other pharmacy.