This villa was probably constructed for M. Thomas sometime between 1899 and 1903.
It was reported in the Taranaki Herald on 13 February 1897, that "Mr R. Gleggs 26-acre farm at Westown" had been sold to "Mr M. Thomas for £575". A cottage was on the property at the time of sale, although it is unlikely this was the present building. Later in 1897 Thomas advertised for tenders for grubbing gorse at his Westown property.
Thomas advertised the property for sale, in either one or two lots, in 1904 - although it doesn't appear to have sold until mid 1905, when a free bus was put on to a sale of Thomas' furniture at Westown. The sale advertisements indicate that Thomas was moving to Napier.
Based on the style of the villa, especially the window hoods on the eastern side, it is suggested that James Sanderson may have been the architect.
Related items:
Fitzroy District Section 25, (Part) Section 26 & (Part) Section 40, Taranaki Land Deed Index I4 page 314. (Archives New Zealand)
Taranaki SO1047 Sheet 1 (1899), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP2095 Sheet 1 (1903), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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