Oxford Building, Timaru

Blue Plaques NZ

Oxford Building, Timaru

Building Details

Name of Building:	Oxford Buildings
Location:	148 Stafford Street, Timaru
Date Plaque Unveiled:	TBA
Current Owners:	TBA
Contact Details:
Plaque Sponsor:	TBA

Plaque Text

Richard Turnbull and David Clarkson first developed this site in 18634. The Oxford is the third building on the site to be built by the Turnbull family, and was designed by architects Turnbull & Rule for D.C. Turnbull & Co. and opened in 1925.

Brief Historical Information:

The Oxford Buildings were erected for DC Turnbull & Co. in 1924-25. Initially it was intended to erect a three-storey building at ‘Gabites’ corner’ but the decision was made in late 1924 to build to four storeys. The commercial building was the tallest in Timaru at the time of its construction and it replaced an earlier structure built by Richard Turnbull that was occupied by Arthur Gabites, a drapery and clothing company established as Gabites and Plante in 1872. Arthur Gabites took possession of the corner shop in the new building, with three other retailers in the smaller shops along Stafford Street. The local branch of the Press and the Weekly Press moved into an office on the first floor in April 1927. Government Life Insurance purchased the building in the early 1950s, having earlier had rooms in Hay’s Buildings further north along Stafford Street. The building has changed hands but remains in commercial use today.