Rockaroundtheclock

A history of New Plymouth’s clock tower: part two

Rachel Sonius

Taranaki Research Centre, Puke Ariki Library, New Plymouth District Council

New Plymouth was promised a replacement clock tower when its Edwardian-era post o ce was demolished in April 1969. Although various design proposals were rejected over the years, the city’s largest public clock – an electric one on the T & G Insurance building, constructed in 1972 – struggled to keep accurate time and so the matter continued to tick away. Meanwhile, the area at the intersection of Devon and Queen Streets where the post o ce and its tower once stood was turned into a pleasant inner city park.

In June 1983 the Taranaki Herald inquired as to the whereabouts of the old town clock mechanism, after yet more complaints about the lack of a reliable public timepiece. e original clock was located, still in storage and in excellent condition. Following several letters to the editor, the newspaper ran an opinion poll that recorded overwhelming support for building a new clock tower: 774 votes to two. is prompted the Taranaki Herald and Radio Taranaki to embark on a fundraising campaign in July 1983. e main event would be an attempt by radio announcer Roger Tonkin to stay on air for a record 70 hours to raise $70,000 for a new clock tower.