This transitional style villa was constructed about 1911 for well-known local jockey and horse trainer John Percy (Percy) Johnson.
Percy Johnson was born at Te Henui on 11 October 1871 into a family of eight children. He grew up at Waitara, and was one of the first four pupils to attend Waitara Central School when it opened in 1875.
Percy's father was a good horseman, and recognising his son's talent, nurtured this from an early age. Percy started his winning streak as a 12 year old when he rode Mermaid to success at a Waitara race meeting in 1883.
His first national win was at the 1890 Great Northern Steeplechase. Throughout his riding career Percy was to win nine nationals – including the four Great Northern Steeplechases, three Great Northern Hurdles, and the grand National Hurdles. He also won the Wellington Steeples three times, the Wanganui Steeples twice and the Egmont Steeples four times.
Fitzroy Suburban Sections 95 & 96, Taranaki Land Deed Index I4 Page 315. (Archives New Zealand)
Taranaki DP1100 Sheet 1 (1897), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki (Lot 1) DP3283 Sheet 1 (1914), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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