The Gables Colonial Hospital (1848)

A building of national significance, it has a Category I rating with Heritage New Zealand.

It was one of four hospitals planned by Governor Sir George Grey to provide medical care for Māori and Pākehā. Frederick Thatcher was commissioned by Grey to design the building and it was built by carpenter George Robinson. The stonework was completed by Thomas Rusden and Samuel Curtis.

Originally located on the northern bank of the Hēnui Stream (now New Plymouth Girls High School), the hospital opened in September 1848. After the commencement of the Taranaki Wars it was little used other than briefly in 1872. In 1880 it was converted into a home for old men called "The Refuge". This closed for economic reasons in 1903.

It was put up for auction in 1904 and was eventually bought by Newton and Mary King - reputedly for £10 - after which it was moved to its present site in Brooklands Park. After the death of Mrs King in 1934, Brooklands Park (including the Colonial Hospital) was gifted to the city of New Plymouth. Private tenants leased the Gables until 1983. After a two-year restoration project, it was re-opened as an arts centre in 1985.

The Gables and Richmond Cottage were re-roofed in 2017, a report on the project can be found here. 

Related documents:

The Old Colonial Hospital (Taranaki Herald 20 January 1903)

A Historic Building - W.H. Skinner Letter to the Editor (Taranaki Herald 20 February 1903)

Tenders, Auction and Move (Taranaki Daily News and Taranaki Herald 1904)

The Disappearance of an Old and Picturesque Landmark (Taranaki Herald 21 July 1904)

Historic "Gables" (Taranaki Herald 11 February 1950)

Gables may stage a comeback (Taranaki Herald 13 December 1980)

Protected by tapu to live again for city (New Zealand Times 31 July 1983)

Gables to open for the public (Daily News 21 December 1984)

New role for historic building (Daily News 9 November 1985)

Gables restoration wins award (Taranaki Herald 10 April 1986)

The Gables (A Pamphlet produced by NPDC)

The Gables Colonial Hospital - The Brooklands Era, Ron Lambert (The Magazine of the Friends of Pukekura Park Vol 5, Number 1 February 2010)

Of passing interest, Kelvin Day (Taranaki Daily News 09 July 2012)