Constructed of timber, this large building clad in plain weatherboard was opened in 1908 for the expanding Taranaki Education Board - the Board were previously located in a much smaller office on Brougham Street.
The original section of the building was designed by the Education Boards architect James Sanderson, who also designed the adjacent, and recently completed New Plymouth Technical School. The contractor for the project was Mr W. Howson. Plans for the new building were deposited with the council on 9 June 1908, with the estimated cost being £1500.
The building was originally single-story with the top floor added later. The addition of a second floor was initially considered in late 1917, however, construction did not proceed owing to the board's high expenditure in the previous financial year. In early October 1919, the Education Board's architect Charles Howard Moore reported that he had submitted plans for additions to the board's offices with the Education Department. However, it wasn't until 14 January 1922, that the Hawera and Normanby Star reported that the Education Board was currently extending its own offices, explaining that:
The improvement is being effected by carrying the front portion of the building up another storey, which will provide five additional rooms. The original scheme provided for carrying the whole building up two stories in order to make better provision for a general office and board room accommodation; but this part has been deferred for the time being.
A building permit for the additions could not be located in the NPBC Building Permit Register.
Both Sanderson and Moore were noted New Plymouth based architects who designed buildings across Taranaki. Sanderson designed many commercial and residential buildings, whilst Moore is probably best known for the development of the 'Taranaki Type' open air classroom - claimed to be an improvement on the earlier 'Fendalton Type' open air classroom.
The building also has value as part of a group of buildings once located on St Michaels Square relating to the development of education in New Plymouth and Taranaki - these buildings include the New Plymouth Technical School (now demolished), the Technical Engineering Workshop (now demolished), and buildings associated with New Plymouth Central School.
Related items:
Tender advertisement (Taranaki Daily News 12 October 1907)
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