WHANGANUI DISTRICT HERITAGE INVENTORY

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WHANGANUI DISTRICT HERITAGE INVENTORY Register Item No: 314 Type: Building Site: Pre-1900 Archaeological Interest Name: GRAND HOTEL Location: 99 St Hill Street (cnr Guyton Street), Whanganui Legal

1 WHANGANUI DISTRICT HERITAGE INVENTORY Register Item No: 314 Type: Building Site: Pre-1900 Archaeological Interest Name: GRAND HOTEL Location: 99 St Hill Street (cnr Guyton Street), Whanganui Legal Description: Pt Sections 209 & 212, Town of Wanganui Current Details: Owner: [Contact Whanganui District Council for details] Occupier: Grand Hotel Original Owner: George Spriggens Date: 1927; extension 1969 (B26.26a: Guyton St bar building built 1904 for Dr Earle) Architect/Designer: TH Battle; extension Prince & McCallum Builder: AG Bignell; extension WM Angus Status: District Plan Class: Class B, 2013 Thematic Context: Cultural & Industry/Commerce Significance: Historic, Architectural, Cultural, Context Integrity: Substantially intact Photo Reference: WDC File Ref: Heritage/Inventory/B26 26m Date: June 2004 & March 2005 See p5 for additional photograph(s) The Grand Hotel is the last major hotel in the town centre still providing accommodation. Heritage Inventory 314 GRAND HOTEL 99 St Hill Street Page 1 zxy231

2 History: Of the site: From the mid 1880s, George Spriggens had owned this site with his residence here in a wooden building. Spriggens was a bootmaker with a shop in the Avenue. He had immigrated to New Zealand with his parents in 1874 and lived in Wanganui from that time until his death in As well as being active in borough council affairs, Spriggens was well-known locally for his involvement in rugby, at one time being president of the NZ Rugby Union. Wanganui s rugby ground, Spriggens Park, was named after him in 1927 and he donated the entrance gates to the ground. (Now Hatrick s Raceway.) George Spriggens was also involved with the Wanganui Volunteer Fire Brigade for many years. In 1904, two buildings were erected in Guyton Street for Dr Earle, the landowner. One of these now houses the Grand Hotel s Sports Bar (B26.26a). Of the building: George Spriggens decided to build a hotel on his land in 1926 and commissioned Wanganui architect and fellow member of the Fire Brigade, Thomas Battle, to prepare the plans. Arthur Bignell s tender was accepted in mid October 1926 and the building permit issued on 19 October for a reinforced concrete and brick building estimated to cost 20,642. The hotel was to take over the licence currently held by Chavannes Hotel (corner Victoria Avenue and Maria Place) which would then be demolished to make way for the new National Bank building. The progress of constructing the hotel was reported frequently in the Wanganui Chronicle from October 1926 to May Particular comments were made about the massive foundations for the three-storey structure, which was to be of modern design. By May 1927, the newspaper was reporting that the palatial hotel was nearing completion. The two upper floors were to contain 56 bedrooms, with lounges on each floor. The ground floor had three shops as well as the hotel requirements of public and private bars, dining room to accommodate 100 guests, and a lounge. The fire-proof nature of the building was also commented on, which was not surprising given the involvement of both Spriggens and Thomas Battle in the local fire brigade for many years. The hotel was finally completed in September 1927 and the licence transferred from Chavannes Hotel to George Spriggens and his new Spriggens Hotel. The total cost of the venture, including furnishings, was reported to be around 48,000. Spriggens owned the hotel for the following five years; by 1932 ownership had been transferred to a wine and spirit company and the name changed to Grand Hotel. Mr RJ McGlone was manager in 1941 but little else is known about its early days and no substantial alterations were made prior to the 1950s. By 1951, the Grand was owned by TE Taylor of Wellington, who sold it to Thomas Hurley who had rebuilt much of the Rutland Hotel following its 1947 fire. Hurley had begun his career in hotel management in Wanganui in 1927 when he took over the Imperial Hotel. He left Wanganui in 1935, managing hotels at various North Island sites until returning to Wanganui in The Hurley family owned the Grand for the following 36 years, during which time substantial changes were made to the hotel internal alterations made to the office, etc (C Newton Hood, architect). This may have been when the entrance was moved to Guyton St the hotel was leased to Messrs G & R Glennie Tim Hurley took over the Grand and purchased it from his father, Thomas, in alterations made, including adding private facilities to guest rooms and enlargement of bar Prince & McCallum designed alterations to the first floor lounge and stair panelling but some of this work did not proceed. (Plans have not approved marked on them.) 1969 new bedroom wing constructed (Prince & McCallum, architects; WM Angus, contractors). The construction cost was $75,600 (total cost $100,000). This was the first extension for the hotel which was renamed Grand International Hotel at the time. The Minister of Tourism, Mr DS Thomson, opened the new wing on 9 Sept All the rooms had en-suite facilities. A verandah was also added above the Guyton Street entrance further additions made costing $52,000 bar and bottle store plans (WM Angus, contractor). This would probably have included the extension into the old building next door on Guyton Street the Hurley family celebrated 25 years at The Grand the Cellar Bar was renovated (Belchambers & Low, architects). Heritage Inventory 314 GRAND HOTEL 99 St Hill Street Page 2 zxy231

3 1980 ground floor internal alterations (Belchambers & Low, architects) Tim Hurley sells The Grand (name of buyer not given in newspaper report). Since the Hurley family left, the hotel has had several owners and undergone further alterations, including the name reverting to The Grand : 1993 Hotel sold again; newspaper notes it had been owned by an Australian company, Janrod Holdings. Cobb & Co restaurant opened (Eureka Design, Auckland) restaurant renamed Clareburt s after current owners following renovations new reception area built (Prospace, Wanganui) internal bar alterations. The Grand is now the only large hotel in the town centre with accommodation. Description: Three-storeyed reinforced concrete building which retains many of its original features, including the portico entrance on St Hill Street with the date 1927 and flagpole on the corner. The majority of the windows have been replaced but the original character of the building is still intact. The 1969 bedroom wing is at the back of the property and only visible from St Hill Street. The adjacent building (B26.26a) in Guyton Street that now houses the Sports Bar was unfortunately clad in the 1970s but has been painted in the same colours as the main building. The interior of the hotel includes a number of heritage features. The dining room still has its ceiling with plastered cornices and panels and wood panelling around the walls; the staircase is original with decorative cast iron balustrades and wooden banisters. It also has a small stained glass window giving light to the lower flight. Condition: Good. Resources Consulted: Wanganui District Council Building files: includes 19 Oct 1926 building permit application but no original plans. 1968/69 extension specifications on file, plus details of other alterations, mainly internal, Wanganui Borough Council Register of Building Permits, Archives Ref AAF 174:1 Oct 1926 permit issued to Geo Spriggens, AG Bignell builder, for brick and concrete hotel, Guyton/St Hill Streets, Section 212 to cost 20,642. Wanganui Borough Council 1908 Insurance Assessment Plan shows wooden building occupied by Spriggens plus Dr Earle s shops (with brick side walls) all on Section 212. Wanganui Herald, 27 Aug 1904 refers to the fine new shops being erected by Dr Earle in Guyton St. Progress, July 1906 refers to Dr Earle s new Guyton Street premises and notes that old buildings had been demolished to make way for the new buildings. Wanganui Chronicle references: 14 Oct 1926 tender accepted; notes a number of unemployed men will be working on hotel project. 21 Oct 1926 start has been made on hotel; contractor is Mr AG Bignell; work to be completed by September 1927 in time to take up licence of Chavannes Hotel (which will then be demolished). 17 Nov 1926 excavations for foundations are under way and house on adjacent section has been moved. 14 Dec 1926 work on Mr G Spriggen s hotel is proceeding; massive foundations under construction while scaffolding is starting to rise into the air. 17 March 1927 good progress being made; brick walls now up to the first floor. To be 3-storey building of modern design. 19 May 1927 palatial hotel nearing completion. A building of commanding appearance ; architect Mr TH Battle. Two upper floors to contain 56 rooms with lounge on each floor. Ground floor will have 3 shops, public and private bars, kitchen etc and a dining room to seat upwards of 100 guests, a roomy lounge and imposing main entrance. Construction throughout is of reinforced concrete and brick, thus assuring a completely fire-proof building. 19 Sept 1927 licence transferred from Chavannes Hotel to Spriggens. (Chavannes then closed and was demolished to make way for the National Bank building.) Heritage Inventory 314 GRAND HOTEL 99 St Hill Street Page 3 zxy231

4 21 Sept 1927 notes Spriggens hotel not yet finished steel had not come to hand as expected, causing delays. (But hotel opened the next day ) 22 Sept 1927 new hotel opened Acquisition to City notes Mr Spriggens had owned land on which hotel is built for 42 years. Also notes cost of hotel amounts to some 48,000 in total. 9 Sept 1969 Grand International Hotel supplement featuring opening of new $100,000 accommodation block by Minister of Tourism, Mr DS Thomson. Gives history of hotel. 21 Feb 1987 Tim Hurley sells Grand Hotel. Notes it was taken over by a wine & spirit company in 1930s; in 1951, Tim Hurley s father took control; it was leased to Glennie s; 1960, Tim Hurley took charge and purchased freehold in (Hurley family celebrated 25 years at The Grand in 1976) 10 Feb 1993 Grand Hotel sold; notes it had been owned by an Australian company, Janrod Holdings. 30 April 1993 Cobb & Co restaurant opens. 11 Dec 1998 restaurant renamed Clareburt s. Wanganui Chronicle, 24 June 1944 obituary for George Spriggens. Alexander Library Card Indexes subject index entries for Spriggens and Grand Hotel; biographical index entries for George Spriggens. has history of the Hotel and facsimile of WC 10 May 1927 and other articles Heritage Study, Item 26/5 recommended registration under Historic Places Act. Wise s Directories: 1929: Spriggens Hotel at Guyton St; 1941: RJ McGlone, Grand Hotel at 88 St Hill St; 1955: Grand Hotel (Hurley) at 129 Guyton St (bar at St Hill Street). Not yet consulted: Whanganui Regional Museum Talboys Collection of plans, includes TH Battle s original plans for Hotel. Comments on Significance: Historic One of Wanganui s prominent citizens, George Spriggens, built the hotel which is now the only major town-centre hotel that provides accommodation. Architectural The façade is largely original and includes the porte cochere on St Hill St, once again the main entrance. Alterations that have been made are mainly internal, with the exception of the 1969 rear bedroom wing. The dining room is largely original, with plastered ceiling, and the staircase still has its original balustrades and banisters. Cultural Since it was built, the Grand has been an important meeting place for Wanganui residents, with the hotel bars and restaurant still in active use. Context The Grand occupies an important corner site and complements its neighbours, especially the District Council and Power Board buildings on the opposite side of St Hill Street. Recommendations: Consider for registration with Historic Places Trust. Date: 22 March 2005 Research by: Wendy Pettigrew Heritage Inventory 314 GRAND HOTEL 99 St Hill Street Page 4 zxy231

5 The Sports Bar addition, originally one of Dr Earle s shops built The Grand occupies an important corner site. The Dining Room of the Grand the only hotel dining room left in Wanganui. The main staircase with its original cast iron balustrades and stained glass window. Heritage Inventory 314 GRAND HOTEL 99 St Hill Street Page 5 zxy231

WHANGANUI DISTRICT HERITAGE INVENTORY

WHANGANUI DISTRICT HERITAGE INVENTORY Register Item No: 377 Type: Building Site & part building: Pre-1900 Archaeological Interest Name: RUTLAND HOTEL Location: 52-58 Victoria Avenue (corner Ridgway Street),