Sykes Building, 109 Devon Street East (1928)

This single-story building was constructed as an investment property for New Plymouth businessman Alfred Ernest Sykes in 1928. The buildings were designed by noted New Plymouth architect Thomas Herbert Bates.

A permit was granted by the New Plymouth Borough Council to A. E. Sykes on 31 May 1928 for the construction of business premises on Town Section 899, Devon Street - Frank Amoore was noted as the builder, and the estimated construction cost was £2900.

Bates had called for tenders in April 1928, and it was reported in May that Amoore had been successful.

The building was almost complete by October, when the Taranaki Daily News described the building in detail, calling it "An Imposing Structure". The building comprised three shops fronting the street with an entranceway leading to a large auction mart at the rear of the building. When first erected, a concrete roadway at the rear of the building allowed access directly to Gill Street. 

Related items:

Town Section 899, Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 page 358 and I1 page 494. (Archives New Zealand)

Taranaki DP585 Sheet 1 (1892), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP4528 Sheet 1 (1924), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP4978 Sheet 1 (1928), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki (Lot 2) DP16347 Sheet 1 (1989), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)