Thorrold-Jaggard designed this building for Alan Carman Keeble, and the firm F. Jackson & Son erected it at a cost of £3,873. A.C. Keeble was possibly part of the Land and Insurance Agents’ firm Bagnall & Keeble that in 1928 was based in the Carroll Buildings on the opposite side of Rangitikei Street. That firm was still based in Rangitikei Street in 1938. Later Keeble worked for the BNZ.
It is unclear when the National Insurance Company occupied this building. The 1941 phonebook lists M.A. Elliott Ltd., of Broadway, as its agent. Early 1970s phone books list it at 6-10 Rangitikei Street (this building), while the 1977 phonebook gives another Rangitikei Street address. The Wises’ Directories list a variety of tenants, including insurance agents, who perhaps represented the company. Other tenants included a draper, a dress shop, a photographer, sharebrokers and solicitors. In 2014, this building was closed and under threat as earthquake-prone.
