Woon House in Vivian Street was built by Mr John Veale for Garland William Woon around 1864. The home was originally clad in vertical board and batten, with "slated roof, lead capping and guttering, lined and ceiled (sic) with kauri timber and papered, with every convenience...".
The property also had "... a two-stall stable and loft, cow shed, pig stye, and poultry house and yard; a shrubbery, planted with a choice selection of trees and plants; a kitchen garden fenced with palings, well stocked with fruit bearing trees... and meadows laid down in prairie and English grasses".
Woon arrived in New Plymouth in 1852 and was the first owner of the Taranaki Herald. He left New Plymouth for Wanganui in 1867 and the house and contents were sold at this time. Woon died in Whanganui in 1936, at the age of 85.
The home retains much of its original character, including many original six-paned double-hung sash windows. However, the home is now clad in plaster, the roof in blue tiles, and faux window shutters have been added.
The current property incorporates Part Town Sections 337 and 363, although it originally occupied a much larger area, some of which was leasehold land.
Town Section 337, Taranaki Land Deed Index I3 Page 177.
Town Section 363, Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 Page 394 and Taranaki Land Deed Index I5 Page 33.
Woon House, 149 Vivian Street New Plymouth, Draft Heritage Assessment (Hamish Crimp)
Related plans:
Taranaki DP2970 Sheet 1 (1911), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP6231 Sheet 1 (1946), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP8126 Sheet 1 (1956), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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