Originally the site of Puke Ariki Pā/Mount Eliot, the first building on this site was constructed during late-1901, following the levelling of the hill, for Mr C. O. Hawke, who acquired the lease of Section 23 of the Mount Eliot Reserve from the New Plymouth Harbour Board during August of that year.
Hawke's original two-storied timber building survived until 1924, when it was replaced by a large purpose-built reinforced concrete warehouse for the Stratford firm of Masters Ltd. A permit for this building was issued to Masters Ltd. on 15 April 1924; it was designed by noted New Plymouth architect Thomas Herbert Bates, constructed by Boon Bros, and had an estimated cost of £4,100.
In August 2016 former mayor and owner of the building, Peter Tennent, met with NPDC to discuss his plans for the site. A short while later demolition of the building began and was complete by early 2017.
On 25 August 2021 the Taranaki Daily News reported that NPDC planned to lease the vacant section to provide more inner-city parking. However, as proper consultation with local iwi had not been undertaken a halt was put on the project. As at July 2023 the site remains empty.
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