William Francis Brooking purchased Town Section 348 in 1881 and is still listed as the occupier on a survey plan from 1907 (DP2496), which also shows an outline of the current home.
Up until the 1883-84 edition of Wises Street Directory, Brooking is listed as living in Dawson Street. He is absent from the 1885-86 edition, and reappears as living in Vivian Street, very likely in the present house, in the 1887-88 edition.
The New Plymouth Borough Council Rates Book for 1887-88 lists Brooking as the ratepayer for Town Sections 348 and 374, and a house (almost certainly the present villa), is noted as being present on the property; the rateable value at that time was £32.
William F. Brooking (1844 - 1923) was at various times an architect, builder, carpenter, cabinetmaker, undertaker, secretary of the De Burgh Adams Lodge, Director of the New Plymouth Investment and Loan Society, Central Ward Borough Councillor.
It is likely Brooking designed and built the home himself sometime between 1881 and 1887.
Related items:
Town Section 348, Taranaki Land Deed Index I5 Page 512. (Archives New Zealand)
Taranaki DP2091 Sheet 1 (1901), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP2496 Sheet 1 (1907), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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