Medley Residence/Bridge House, 23 Wallace Place (1925)

This house on Wallace Place was likely built in 1925 for Mr J.S.S. Medley. A permit was issued to him on 27 February 1925 for a residence on Wallace Place. The estimated cost was £450 and the builder was Frank Hartnell.

In the early 1960s the New Plymouth Bridge Club purchased the property (divided into three flats at the time) and set about raising funds toward refurbishing the building. Bridge House was officially opened on 16 September 1965 by the mayor, Mr Honnor. 

In 1976 the club obtained a $10,000 loan from the TSB to extend the building and enlarge the car park at the rear. In 1989, with the club growing rapidly, a new site was sought out and the eventually work began on the present Hobson Street clubrooms. 

Bridge House on Wallace Place was sold in 1995 for $152,000. 

Further reading: New Plymouth Contract Bridge Club, History 1950 - 2020 (TRCT795.4152 MIL)

Related items:

DEED5 Wallace Place (1878), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP7405 Sheet 1 (1953), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP9481 Sheet 1 (1965), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP11067 Sheet 1 (1974), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)