Kōrero: Taranaki places

Wilkinson Building (2 o 2)

Wilkinson Building

Located on Eltham’s central intersection, Wilkinson Building was opened in 1914. The innovative reinforced-concrete structure was designed by Hāwera architect John Duffill for Charles Wilkinson, Eltham’s foremost businessman and politician. Wilkinson came to the town in 1884 to manage a store for the merchant Chew Chong. He soon established his own shop and became a major player in the cocksfoot seed industry. For 22 years he was a member of Parliament, first representing the Reform Party and then as an independent; he nearly became the first leader of the National Party in 1936. From 1941 to 1947 Wilkinson was mayor of Eltham, retiring from Parliament in 1943.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection
Photograph by Ron Lambert

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Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Ron Lambert, 'Taranaki places - Stratford', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/25895/wilkinson-building (accessed 19 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Ron Lambert, updated 1 Sep 2016