This villa residence was probably constructed in the early-mid 1900s for Stratford farmer Stephen Rye - Leslie Thompson Steele may have been the builder. It appears the house was rented for the early period of its history.

A Fitzroy Town Board rating roll for 1907-08 lists Rye as the ratepayer for Lots 154 & 155 of Fitzroy Subdivision - a rateable value of £457 probably indicates a house was present on the section.

This value remained constant for the 1908-09, 1909-10, 1911-12 rating years, but dropped to £27 for the 1912-13 rating year. This drop reflects the shift from capital values to annual values - Fitzroy was about to be incorporated within New Plymouth Borough, and annual values were used in New Plymouth Borough.

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