Egmont Oyster Saloon, 28 Devon Street East (1891)

This unassuming building is probably the oldest surviving single-storey building on Devon Street and was constructed by builder Mr W. Christie for Stephens and Cluett as refreshment rooms in 1891.

The new refreshment rooms were opened on Wednesday 7 January 1891, and on January 9 the Taranaki Herald, located four doors below the new store, published an article describing the new building in considerable detail. At the front of the shop were "two rooms with shop windows. One of these is used for a fruit and confectionery shop, and the other is used for general purposes". The main dining-room was located further back, was 20ft. x 18ft, and "fitted up with five tables, each capable of accommodating eight persons comfortably"; in total the refreshment rooms could comfortably accommodate forty persons. Another, smaller room was fitted up as a 'Ladies Room', and at the rear was a kitchen, "fitted up with all the requisite culinary appliances".

It seems fish and oysters were a major component of the business, with the shop often referred to as 'Stephen and Cluett's Oyster Saloon' - although they also sold other goods including ice-cream, iced drinks, pies etc. The last mention of Stephens and Cluett operating the business together is in November 1891, and by December of 1891, the business is operating as 'Cluett's Oyster Saloon'. Interestingly, Puke Ariki holds an image of this section of Devon Street from late 1891 or early 1892, in which 'Stephens' name has been painted over on the parapet - very helpful evidence for dating this particular photograph. 

In December 1893, the business was taken over by Mr Ernest Dingle and renamed the 'Egmont Oyster Saloon' - the last mention of Dingle operating the business is late 1895. The Egmont Oyster Saloon continued to trade under the proprietorship of Gerald Pickard in 1896 and early 1897, when G. Walters advertised "having made extensive alterations to the premises lately occupied by Mr G. Pickard, I am now in a position to supply the General Public with First Class Refreshments at all hours". 

However, Walters doesn't seem to have operated the business for long, with James Gardiner listed as the proprietor in Stones Street Directory for 1898. James Gardiner continued to operate the business, possibly under the name 'Gardiner's Refreshment Rooms', until 1912. About 1910, Gardiner also opened a pork butchers shop in this or the neighbouring building. In mid 1912 Gardiner advertised for sale "the goodwill of two shops in Devon Street, refreshment rooms and pork butchery". It seems Gardiner had a serious illness which forced his retirement, and whilst he appeared to recover from this, on 16 November 1912 he experienced a severe coughing fit and passed away around 11:15pm.

In 1955 a permit was granted by the Council to the Self Help Company Ltd for additions and alterations to this building - the shop was extended at the rear, the shop entrance remodelled, and the original wooden floor replaced with concrete to match the new addition. The neighbouring building at 24 Devon Street East was also constructed at this time - the contactors for the work was New Plymouth firm Boon Bros Ltd. Plans for this work, and also a description of the work to be carried out, are held by NPDC.

Despite these alterations, parts of the original building, including the roof structure, parapet, and eastern wall are all thought to be original. The western side of the shop has been extended at some point, and this may have been in 1897 when the renovations were carried out by G. Walters, and possibly when the neighbouring shop (since demolished and replaced with 1955 building), was constructed. The original roof structure is clearly visible from the rear of the building, being lower than the new structure. 

Related items:

Town Section 909, Taranaki Land Deed Index I3 Page 38 and I5 Page 184. (Archives New Zealand)

Taranaki DP3234 Sheet 1 (1913), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki (Lot 2) DP6207 Sheet 1 (1945), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)