165 Lemon Street (1903)

Section 2109 was advertised for sale, with no mention of a building in 1899. The 1900-01 New Plymouth Borough Council Rating Book lists Charles Brewer as the ratepayer for Town Sections 2108 and 2109, with no dwellings yet constructed on the section; the properties were valued at £4.

Later, on 16 June 1903, A. Lealand was granted a permit for the construction of two cottages on Town Section 2109 Lemon Street, with an estimated construction cost of £288 - this is likely the two cottages presently on this section.

A. Lealand appears to have been a baker/confectioner/caterer and was a member of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce; Eastern Ward Borough Council candidate; and honorary member of the New Plymouth Borough Fire Brigade.

This cottage is notable for being in largely original condition, with original sash windows and cladding. Many original internal features, including wall linings and doors are also present.

Town Sections 2097-2113 were initially offered for sale in late 1896 and early 1897 - several businesses including Mitchinson's Plant Nursery occupied the site prior to this time. Most of the houses were built after this time, and whilst some have been removed, this section of Lemon Street still contains a number of late 1890s and early 1900s homes.

Particularly important are the four cottages at 161, 163, 165, 167 and 169 Lemon Street - being a continuous row of early Twentieth Century cottages now rare in New Plymouth. The small size of some of these cottages (compared to villas and other homes constructed around the same period) suggest they may have been workers cottages and are thus representative of a group of people who have only in recent decades been recognised in the historical literature.