Collier's Music House was established in New Plymouth in the 1870s by Henry Collier (1832-1935). Collier immigrated to New Zealand from Manchester in 1860 and settled in Whanganui where he and his brother Herbert purchased a music importing business. Originally named H. Collier & Co., they eventually had branches in New Plymouth, Ōpunakē, Hāwera, Feilding, Taumarunui and Palmerston North. Known for importing music scores and instruments and well regarded as piano tuners, Collier's supplied many churches in the region. Henry went on to purchase substantial farm holdings across Taranaki, Whanganui and Rangitikei and was one of the first sheep farmers to class his wool before sending it back to England.
This building also housed Taranaki's first radio station, 2YB, which began broadcasting from it in April 1929. The station moved to the Empire Building in King Street in 1932 from where it operated for the next twenty years.
A permit was granted for the Collier's building on 12 September 1925. The estimated cost was £3700, the architect was Thomas Herbert Bates and the builder was Frank Amoore. Bates called for tenders in August 1925. Upon completion in 1926, the Taranaki Daily News described the four-storey warehouse as an "imposing structure".
In October 1991 Collier's moved to new premises on Devon Street East and the business finally ceased trading in March 1995.
After 29 years in the building, Roger French closed his photographic shop in September 2024.
Related Documents:
Business Expansion (Taranaki Herald 27 April 1926)
Collier's Advertisement (Taranaki Herald 10 December 1930)
For 77 years the House of Collier has sold pianos (Taranaki Herald Centennial Issue 1852-1952)
2YB kept the home fires burning (Daily News 16 November 1996)
Mid-city musical era at an end (Daily News 23 October 1991)
Last Post plays for Collier's music shop (Daily News 17 March 1995)
Collier's Building Heritage Inventory Entry, Chris Cochran, New Plymouth CBD Heritage Inventory (1995)
Taranaki DP1255 Sheet 1 (1898), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP1271 Sheet 1 (1899), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP3839 Sheet 1 (1919), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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