This building was located on the corner of Devon Street West and Queen Street.
Information from the building registers held at Puke Ariki show that a permit was granted to G.T. McConnell on September 22, 1930 to erect a building on this site at a cost of £2,000. G.T. (Gilmour Thomas) McConnell is listed as a builder on the 1928 New Plymouth electoral roll. Architect unknown.
It is named "Regent Buildings" after the picture theatre next door. In the early 1940s Mr McConnell opened the Regent Milk Bar on the ground floor.
The site was purchased about 2006 by the New Plymouth District Council at a cost of $715,000 for the proposed Len Lye Centre.
Demolition of this building, and the Red Cross building next door, began on 30 April 2013.
Documents
Motorcyclist crashes Taranaki Daily News 14 May 1971
Red Cross building demolished Taranaki Herald 23 June 1984
Councillors smell a rat Taranaki Daily News 16 August 2006
Work begins on Len Lye centre and art gallery Taranaki Daily News 1 May 2013
Queen Street, 1984, Puke Ariki Collection (PHO2012-0129)
LinkPlease do not reproduce these images without permission from Puke Ariki.
Contact us for more information or you can order images online here.
