Scotland Cottage (circa 1854)

Located in the grounds of New Plymouth Girls High School (NPGHS), Scotland Cottage is thought to have been built about 1854.

Henry Scotland immigrated to New Zealand from England in 1850 and settled in New Plymouth, where he worked as a barrister. He was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1868. When he died in 1910, aged 89, he was the oldest serving member of parliament.

This house he built was a simple cottage, made of rough-sawn timber with board and batten cladding. Of particular note are the foundations which feature shaped boulders from the Te Hēnui River. According to the Taranaki Land Deed Indexes (see below) Scotland purchased the property in 1876, part of Town Belt Section G, and sold it in 1888. However, electoral rolls list Scotland as the freehold owner of this section from the early 1870s, indicating that it's likely he moved here after selling his property on Courtenay Street in 1854. 

A boarding hostel built in 1928 by the school, adjacent to the cottage, was named "Scotlands" in honour of the former owner of the land.

The cottage was acquired by NPGHS as they extended their grounds. It was used as a caretaker's cottage for many years and in 2004 was extensively renovated.

It is now a meeting place for staff and students. It has a Category II registration with Heritage New Zealand. 

Legal description Lot 6 DP4898. 

Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 Pages 557 & 558.

Taranaki Land Deed Index I4 Page 367.

Related document:

Of passing interest, Kelvin Day (TDN 31 December 2012)