These two cottages were built for Mr Robert Baker, a retired farmer from Mangorei Road, about 1900.
Town Section 217 was purchased by Baker from J. Downe in July 1900. Robert Baker retained ownership of the section until his death in 1913 - it then appears the section was subdivided in 1914.
The rear of the properties can be seen in this image which was taken c1905. (Puke Ariki collection PHO2012-0365)
On 29 December 2020 a gas explosion ignited a fierce blaze which destroyed one of the cottages and badly damaged the other. One of the occupants Ben D'Arth suffered burns to 28% of his body and was rushed to the burns unit at Waikato Hospital. (TDN 31 December 2020)
The two cottages lay empty until they were finally demolished in May 2022. (TDN 12 May 2022)
Related items:
Town Section 217, Taranaki Land Deeds Index I5 page 567. (Archives New Zealand)
Town Section (Western Part) 217, Taranaki Land Deeds Index I13 page 694. (Archives New Zealand)
Town Section (Eastern Part) 217, Taranaki Land Deeds Index I13 page 680. (Archives New Zealand)
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