Down your street
Behind every street name is a story. Every month we look at some well-known Taranaki streets and the origin of their names. If you want to know more about a particular street, please email us.
Brougham Street, New Plymouth
Is named after the barque Brougham, which brought the surveyors and staff, Messrs Carrington, Rogan, and others from Wellington, in February 1841. The party landed on the beach just below where the stone memorial to the pioneers now stands.
Murray Street, Bell Block
Named after Lieutenant Colonel Murray. Colonel Murray was sent to New Zealand with his troops. He arrived in New Plymouth in 1854 and was a soldier in the New Zealand Land Wars.
Nobs Line, New Plymouth
In 1843-44 a number of the upper social folk, "the Nobs", were in the last throes of distress owing to unemployment and general conditions. They were given work cutting this boundary line through the forest inland. The name was given through sarcasm by the larger working element among the pioneers.
McLean Street, Waitara
Named after Sir Donald McLean, who took a leading part in the negotiations for the purchase of the disputed Peka Peka Block that resulted in the beginning of the New Zealand Land Wars. His full name is commemorated by the Sir Donald McLean Masonic Lodge in Domett Street. The name was given when Sir Donald McLean, in his capacity as District Grand Master of the North Island, signed the warrant for the establishment of the Lodge in 1876.
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Did you know?
The Cape Egmont Lighthouse was built in Pimlico, London, in the mid-1800s.
In 1865, the cast-iron segments were shipped to New Zealand and assembled on Mana Island, north of Wellington.
However, the spot proved unsatisfactory and the lighthouse was moved to Cape Egmont and reassembled on its present site.
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Taranaki Teaser
Many songs have been written about Taranaki. One of these was about the "Think Big" era of the early 1980s, when energy plants were built at Motunui and Waitara Valley, and the Omata tank farm appeared above Back Beach.
Can you name the band and the song?
The answer will be revealed in the April Edition of Taranaki Trivia!
Last month's answer: Sir Truby King, Founder of the Plunket Society.
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