Off Gover Street, near the intersection with Devon St East, there is a short lane that was first surveyed in 1897 as a right- of-way to shops and houses in Devon St East. Eventually it became known as Moller Lane after Henry Moller and his family.
A natural salesman, Moller followed his father and set up in the motor vehicle industry. Beginning as a car salesman in Hāwera, he moved to New Plymouth in 1929 and started the Kiwi Service Station on the corner of Eliot and Courtenay Streets.
Looking for a better location to sell motor vehicles, he bought land on Devon St East for £2600 in 1930 and built a showroom there. Unfortunately the outbreak of World War Two reduced the demand for cars and his business struggled. Looking for other opportunities, he began building houses and selling them. He also bought two old houses behind his showroom in Courtenay St and later the sections either side. On part of the land he built a workshop and connected it to the Devon St East showroom with a ramp.
Later, control of the company passed to Henry's sons. The TSB Bank also owned land in the area and in the mid-1970s Norton Moller suggested they combine their holdings, purchase more land, and build a new shopping centre and headquarters for the bank.
That development, known as "Centre Court", opened in 1979.
The Mollers had a high profile in the community. Many will remember the 'Moller Majorettes' marching team of the 1980s. They made many contributions to the community, including sponsorship of New Plymouth Old Boys' Cricket Club.
The original right-of-way was surveyed again in 1988 and officially designated a service lane. The following year it was named Moller Lane.
This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.
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