The hospital was a pre-fabricated building brought out on the William Bryan the first of the Plymouth Company vessels. It was later moved to the north-eastern corner of Devon and Brougham Streets to become a general store.
(New Plymouth's second hospital was built in Mangorei Road in 1847-8. It was moved to Brooklands Park in 1904 where it survives as the Gables.)
Bishop Selwyn's service was held beside the Huatoki Stream where nearby, in 1854, a small wooden Methodist church was built by Māori within Kawau pā which lay between Gill Street and the coast where Centre City now is.
Plaque reads
NE OBLIVISCAMUR
[Lest We Forget]
UPON THIS LAND IN THE YEAR 1841
WAS ERECTED THE FIRST
PUBLIC HOSPITAL BUILDING
IN TARANAKI AND HERE IN OCTOBER 1842
GEORGE AUGUSTUS SELWYN D.D.
BISHOP OF NEW ZEALAND HELD THE FIRST
DIVINE SERVICE CONDUCTED BY HIM IN
NEW PLYMOUTH
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