Martha King

This venue was also used for other functions, such as balls and cultural activities, which reflected the Kings' prominent presence in New Plymouth's public life.

[3] King created a "fine garden", and leaving it was a cause of distress when she temporarily moved to Auckland for safety during the First Taranaki War of 1860–1861.

[4][5] King was one of the early British and Irish settlers who turned to botanical illustration to "eke out a livelihood in rough conditions".

[7] The first set of 40 watercolours was completed by January 1843, reaching the New Zealand Company in London in September 1843; it was acquired by the Alexander Turnbull Library in 1981.

[8] Apart from the botanical watercolours, all that remains of King's work are 16 pencil sketches depicting scenes of Wellington, Wanganui and New Plymouth, dated between 1841 and 1859.