Richmond Cottage is located on Ariki Street, close to the entrance of the north wing of Puke Ariki.
The cottage was originally sited near the former Tasman Hotel (now Richmond Estate apartments) on the foreshore. It was built in 1853-54 for Christopher and Emily Richmond. Henry and Arthur Richmond were responsible for the carpentry and the stonemason, Nathaniel Hooker, used stone from the nearby beach.
When the decision was made to build a large new hotel on St Aubyn Street it was decided to move Richmond Cottage to its present site. After it was dismantled then re-assembled stone by stone, it was officially opened by Henry Richmond's son, Howard Parris, on 30 March 1963. The architect in charge of the relocating the cottage was F. John Bowering.
Richmond Cottage and The Gables were re-roofed in 2017: a report on that project can be found here.
Richmond Cottage has a Category 1 rating with the Heritage New Zealand and is listed as Category A Heritage Building on the NPDC District Plan.
Richmond Cottage is currently (2026) closed to the public.
Related Documents
Town Sections 594 595 & 596, Taranaki Land Deed Index I3 page 296. (Archives New Zealand)
Taranaki DP1127 Sheet 1 (1898), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP6788 Sheet 1 (1950), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Official Guests Will Recall Colony Days (Taranaki Herald 29 March 1963)
Richmond Cottage Cost £150 (Taranaki Herald 26 October 1963)
Removed and put together stone by stone (NZ Women's Weekly 10 February 1964)
Richmond Cottage renovated (Taranaki Herald 30 April 1988)
Disappearing intersection (Taranaki Daily News 6 May 2012)
Of passing interest, Kelvin Day (Taranaki Daily News 7 May 2012)
NPDC 1995 CBD Heritage Study (Richmond Cottage)
Richmond Cottage, Historic Places Trust Pamphlet (1975)
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The information on this website is provided for general research and reference only. While we try to keep content accurate and current, we make no guarantees about its completeness or correctness. It should not be considered a replacement for a LIM or a Property Report. Some content is supplied by third parties. Puke Ariki has not verified this content and users should check its accuracy before relying on it.The inclusion of a building on the website does not imply heritage status. See SCHED1 in the NPDC District Plan for a list of buildings that have rules about what can happen to or around them (administered by NPDC). See the New Zealand Heritage List for a list of buildings that are celebrated for their heritage significance but are not subject to rules (administered by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga). Should any corrections need to be made to the records or for more information please contact us.
