Public Trust Offices, 52 King Street (1920 & 1925)

The former Public Trust Office on the corner of Queen and King Streets was designed by notable New Plymouth architect Thomas H. Bates and constructed in two sections in the early 1920s. Bates called for tenders in February 1920 and in March 1920 it was announced that Messrs. Roberts and Son had won the contract, with the building expected to cost about £4,000. 

In 1925 Bates advertised for tenders for additions to the Public Trust Offices with a second level being added to the building.

Sir Michael Fowler, in his book Buildings for New Zealanders (1984), selected this building as a classic example of a "no nonsense" provincial office.

The building is now a private residence.

Related items:

Town Section (Part 628), Taranaki Land Deed Index I5 Page 10. (Archives New Zealand

Taranaki DP2062 Sheet 1 (1903), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP2308 Sheet 1 (1906), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP3831 Sheet 1 (1920), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP7220 Sheet 1 (1952), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ) 

New Public Trust Office for New Plymouth (Taranaki Daily News 28 January 1920)

Public Trust Offices Heritage Inventory Entry (NPDC CBD Heritage Inventory, Chris Cochran,1995)