With the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840 and the declaration of sovereignty from 21 May 1840, the number of immigrants to New Zealand, particularly from the United Kingdom, began to increase.

[2] The Beach Cottage as it was then known due to its originally seaside location, overlooked the sea in St Aubyn Street, near the present Richmond Estate apartments.

[3] Henry Richmond and Arthur Atkinson were also responsible for the woodwork, which was rimu; the stonework was done by a local stonemason, Nathaniel Hooke.

The Atkinsons remained at Beach Cottage while Arthur was variously engaged as bush ranger, editor and co-proprietor of the Taranaki Herald, and as a member of the Provincial Council and General Assembly.

When the construction of the Tasman Hotel (now Richmond Estate) started in the early 1960s, the cottage was deconstructed and moved to its present site next to the library and museum building.