Thomas Avery's Residence, 31B Timandra Street (circa 1903)

This large two-storey home is clad in plain weatherboard with sash windows. It is located in a picturesque location overlooking the Te Hēnui river valley, nestled amongst a rare remnant of semi-coastal native forest.

A plan from 1907 shows an outline of the home, with Thomas Avery noted as the owner and occupier. 

Frank Messenger sought tenders for painting Mr T. Avery's home in May 1903 - so it's thought the building may have been completed soon after this date.

Thomas Avery is first listed as living on the Avenue Road in the 1904 edition of Stone's Street Directory.

Thomas died in 1926, and his wife Eliza remained living in the home until her death in 1933. It seems their son Alfred Henry Avery then occupied the house for a period until the 1940s. 

In 1908 Thomas subdivided the section, and the neighbouring villa at 33A Timandra Street was constructed for his son Thomas Montague Avery.

Related items:

Town Belt E, Taranaki Land Deed Index I4 page 226. (Archives New Zealand)

Taranaki DP390 Sheet 1 (1890), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP2523 Sheet 1 (1907), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki SO3502 Sheet 1 (1909), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)