The Bendall Walk (Huatoki Domain)

Located on the bend near the bridge on Huatoki Street in Vogeltown, this rock is inscribed with the words "The Bendall Walk 1925".

The walk is named after William Edward Bendall, a local resident who played a significant role in ensuring that the Huatoki Domain was saved from Government plans to mill the surrounding land as part of resettlement plans for returning soldiers after World War I. 

The date on the rock actually recognises the year William Bendall died - the Bendall Walk was not officially opened until 14 May 1927. 

It appears that the inscription on the stone tablet has been altered since, as the newspaper report of the unveiling records the words as being "Bendall Memorial Walk 1925". 

William was born in New Plymouth in 1873, the son of Edward and Martha Bendall, and was apprenticed at the age of 12 to Mr J. Ward's cooperage business. Eventually he bought Ward's business and built it into a very successful enterprise. As well as being an active member of the Huatoki Domain Board, he was a director of the Equitable Building Society, the Ngamotu Beach Company and was a prominent Freemason. He died on 31 August 1925 aged 52.  

There is an 'urban myth' sometimes associated with the Bendall Walk concerning an alleged murder having occurred in 1930 but there is no truth to this story.

Related items:

Mr W.E. Bendall Obituary (Taranaki Daily News 1 September 1925)

An Honoured Citizen: Late W.E. Bendall Memorial (Taranaki Daily News 15 April 1926)

Bendall Memorial Fund (Taranaki Daily News 19 June 1926)

Interact Club Clears Bendall Walk (New Plymouth Photo News #89 31 August 1963)