This villa residence was probably constructed for owner Richard Langman between 1903 and 1905.
A certificate of title for Lot 13 of Part Section 27, Town of Tukapo, was issued to Cholwill Billing on 19 July 1901. The property was purchased by Westown settler Richard Langman on 10 October 1903, and valuation rolls confirm no dwelling was present on the section at this time.
The house appears to have been constructed by September 1905, with Langman first advertising for let a six-roomed house a mile and a half from town - the property was advertised for sale and let several times of the next few years.
On 19 September 1918 the property was transferred to the Public Trustee. It seems the property may have been auctioned, with ownership transferred to farmer Joseph Wilton on 17 July 1919. Wilton only retained ownership for a couple of months before the property again changed hands and was transferred to farmer James Cole Davidson on 20 November 1919. Ownership was then transferred to nurseryman Robert William James Davies on 14 June 1920.
During December 1920 cabinetmaker Robert James Prestney purchased the property from Davies; the house would become the first home of Robert and his wife Alice Jane (nee Hamilton), who were married the same year.
Robert Prestney would live in the villa until his death on 23 December 1983, aged 88 years - spending a massive 63 years at the house. Following Robert's death, the property was transferred to his sons and subdivided the following year.
Related items:
Taranaki (Part Lot 13) DP1619 Sheet 1 (1896), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP6041 Sheet 1 (1942), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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