This two-storey concrete building on the corner of Devon Street East and Liardet Street was built in 1927. A permit was issued to Devon Buildings Limited on 26 January 1927 for the construction of premises on town section 895. The builders were J.T. Julian and Son and the estimated cost was £7,500. The Taranaki Daily News described the building in some detail on 9 September 1927, identifying the owners as "Trust Buildings" (a Whanganui syndicate) and the architect as George Meuli of Whanganui.
The N.P.D.C. CBD Heritage Study (1995) states that it was built to house the Government Life Insurance Office. However, it seems likely that from its opening in 1927 the building also housed a number of other tenants.
The study describes it as "a modest piece of classical design, significant principally for its appropriate scale, interesting silhouette to the parapet and streetscape value on a prominent city corner".
In 2003 the ground floor was converted into the "Grumpy Mole" bar and restaurant. Following its closure the "Upside Down' bar opened in 2010, however this closed in early 2011. In late 2012 the nightclub "Club 55" opened on the ground floor. This has also since closed.
Related items:
Town Section (895), Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 page 37 and I4 page 292. (Archives New Zealand)
Taranaki DP130 Sheet 1 (1888), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP616 Sheet 1 (1893), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP3824 Sheet 1 (1919), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki (Lot 1) DP5019 Sheet 1 (1927), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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