This large homestead on Vivian Street was originally built for New Plymouth draper Mr Walter Morey in the 1880s, with additions completed by noted New Plymouth architect Frank Messenger in 1907.
In 1922 Mrs Edith Adams and Miss Eva Livesey purchased the property and converted the house into a private surgical hospital. It again changed hands in 1951, although it continued to be run as a private hospital.
Noradene closed down in April 1970, and whilst the community came up with a number of suggestions for possible uses for the building - including a social centre and Māori Hostel, in the end the old hospital was demolished.
Parts of the building were sold by auction, and several sets of french doors (probably located at the sides and rear of the building) were used in construction of the New Plymouth Potters Workroom at the Te Henui Vicarage on Courtenay Street, where they can still be found today.
The old hospital was replaced by new consulting rooms (Taranaki Herald 17 July 1973) for a group of medical practitioners. Fittingly the name Noradene remains on the sign outside.
Click here to read a history of "Noradene". (Collection of Puke Ariki ARC2005-439)
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