Imperial Hotel, Auckland facts for kids
The Imperial Hotel is an old building in Auckland, New Zealand. You can find it where Fort Street and Queen Street meet. It was built a long time ago in 1883. This building is a great example of Victorian architecture, which was a popular style back then. In 1987, it was officially recognized as an important heritage building by Heritage New Zealand. Today, the building is used as a hostel for travelers, a place to eat and drink, and a common area for people to relax.
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Building the Hotel
The original Imperial Hotel was built in 1883. Two architects, Edward Mahoney and his son, designed the building to look balanced on both sides. A builder named John Currie constructed it. It cost about £4,268 (which was a lot of money back then!). Later, between 1862 and 1873, three more buildings were added. These included two other hotel buildings and an outdoor toilet area.
A Look Back: Hotel History
Before the Imperial Hotel, there was another hotel on the same spot called the Metropolitan Hotel. It opened in 1858. Sadly, a fire badly damaged much of that first building, and it was later pulled down.
In 1882, a hotel owner named Thomas Anderson took over the land. He wanted to make a bigger hotel to fit more guests. Around this time, new rules about selling drinks were made, which helped hotels become very popular. The economy was also growing. Because of this, a company called Hancock Brewers gave Anderson some money. In return, he promised to sell their drinks. This helped him build the new hotel, and it was renamed the Imperial Hotel in 1883. This area was also used for offices by important groups like the Auckland Gas Board and the Auckland Harbour Board.
Changes Over Time
In 1885, a big company from Melbourne called Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society took over the lease from Anderson. They used part of the building for their own offices, but it was still known as the Imperial Hotel. By 1889, the hotel had grown to include another building called Graham's Buildings. You could now enter the hotel from Fort Street.
By 1912, the hotel had many rooms, including private sitting rooms, bedrooms, offices, and a dining room. It also had a covered porch on the first floor facing the street. The second floor gained new bedrooms and a kitchen. In 1917, the company leasing the hotel, Hancock, changed the ground floor. They made the bar area bigger and added a shop for drinks and a smoke shop.
In 1924, Hancock bought the building himself. Five years later, he added a lounge and new bathrooms, including a separate one just for women on the first floor. In 1930, the hotel bought the buildings next door, called Webb's Buildings, and used them for more hotel space. In 1954, the hotel's bar was made even bigger and stretched into those new buildings.
What Happened After the Imperial Hotel?
The Imperial Hotel stopped using that name in 1966. It became the Lion Tavern, which took up about two-thirds of the ground floor. In 1989, it was renamed Downtown Queen Street Backpackers. The first and second floors were changed into rooms for backpackers, but the bars on the ground and first floors stayed open.
In 2000, a group of Chinese investors bought the building. Today, what was once the Imperial Hotel is now called Queen Street Backpackers. It's a hostel for people traveling in and around Auckland.
Why This Building is Important
The former Imperial Hotel is important for a few reasons:
- Location History: It was built on land that was once part of the shoreline. This area was very important for bringing goods and supplies into Auckland.
- City Center: The building housed offices for important groups like the Harbour Board and the Gas Board. This meant it was a key place for running the city, as well as a social spot. The creation of the Auckland Harbour Board in 1871 really helped Auckland's economy grow.
- Architecture: The Webb Buildings, which became part of the hotel in 1954, show the special design style of an architect named James Wrigley. These buildings are one of the only commercial properties Wrigley designed.
The Imperial Hotel was officially added to the list of important historic places on September 10, 1987.
Other Names for the Building
The Imperial Hotel building has been known by several names over the years, from oldest to newest:
- Metropolitan Hotel
- Imperial Hotel
- Imperial Tavern
- Lion Tavern
- Graham's Buildings
- Somerset House
- Colonial Mutual Assurance Company Buildings
- Webb's Buildings
- New Zealand Express Company Buildings
- Queen Street Backpackers
Images for kids
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The Imperial Hotel in September 2018
