Doralto Road

Doralto is a portmanteau word that celebrates the family of Thomas Owen Kelsey. Thomas was part of a syndicate that subdivided the area known as Woodleigh Farm through which Doralto road runs. The name takes the first letters of two of his children and his wife. So letters from Doris Alice and Tom are taken to make Doralto; Alice being his wife. He had a third child whose name we won't divulge as it forms the basis another street name.

The subdivided area was named in a similar fashion when Thomas took the "Frank" from Frankley (as in the road) and the "Leigh" from Woodleigh to make Frankleigh Park. So yet another mystery is solved for those of you who have ever wondered why there are the two different spellings.

Thomas originally came to New Zealand in 1878, going to Christchurch and working for Guthrie and Larnach. He later went out on his own, but fell on hard times. He then came to New Plymouth to work for Newton King as secretary and confidential clerk. He later set himself up as an accountant.

He was well known for his public service particularly as a supporter of the free library service and was active in selecting books for the collection. For many years, he was also secretary of the Taranaki Agricultural Society. He died on 15 April 1908 and is buried at Te Hēnui cemetery.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.