26 Cains Terrace and 8 Beswick St
LN: 2054 C:2
1875 rebuilt 1915
Architect J S Turnbull
Builders Shillito Bros
The Grosvenor Hotel was constructed in 1915. It replaced a previous hotel with the same name which had occupied the site since 1875 The first Grosvenor Hotel on the site was a two storeyed brick building established by John Meikle on land owned by John Crammond. Both hotels have made unique contributions to the history of Timaru. The Canterbury Rugby Football Union (CRFU) was established in the basement if the original building in 1879. The Grosvenor there today hosted Queen Elizabeth during a royal visit in 1954 and again in 1970s. Since 1983 the hotel has been recognised by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga as a Category II historic place.
When Polladio Holdings Limited bought the building in 2005, it was looking tired and somewhat neglected. The new owners were keen to uncover the original brickwork, kauri and rimu flooring and panelling. Ping Lim from Polladio Holdings Limited says he likes ‘the creaking old floorboards, uneven wall lining, and a different layout for every room’. He saw the interior as a blank canvas – literally. In the past 14 years, the Grosvenor has become home to a substantial art collection that includes works by eminent New Zealand artists Bill Hammond, Peter Robinson, Hannah Kidd, Lonnie Hutchinson, Jim Cooper and Ian Scott. International artists like Melly Trochez and Leo Eguiarte also feature throughout the hotel, and its popular restaurant and bar. Learn more here
Affectionately known as the "Grand Old Lady of the South", the foundation stone was laid 1875 and shortly after it was completed it burnt down. The façade you see today comes after the rebuilding in 1915. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II stayed there for the Golden Jubilee and she set up camp again in the 1970s when her yacht was berthed at Timaru. She slept in room 101 and we still have her menu where she was offered baked mountain trout and Veuve Clicquot champagne among other delicacies. The Canterbury Rugby Football Union was formed at The Grosvenor on July 26th 1879 and a plaque on the building stating that still remains.
The plans for the original hotel were drawn up for John Meikle by the architect F J Wilson in 1875. The hotel is believed to have been built for Mr O'Meehan and for a time after his detail it was owned by his estate., Sometime after 1913 it was taken over by Mr Charles Sullivan who then moved on to the Old Bank Hotel. The control of the Grosvenor passed to Mr Murphy who came to Timaru in 1913. In 1915 he closed the building for a complete reconstruction which drew some criticism of the design. It was considered to be too austere in an era when ornamentation was in vogue. Murphy was bought out by a syndicate who leased the hostel to FM Drewitt but later it was managed for the owners C S (Tui) Elms. Mr E Young bought the Grosvenor from teh syndicate and sold it to Mr and Mrs McNeil.
Redeveloped by architect James Turnbull in 1915 Edwardian Baroque style for Mr John Meikle. The Grosvenor Hotel was sold to Christchurch-based Pollardio Holdings. The company took over the business on October 1 2007. "They are committed to maintaining the heritage and the glory of the Grosvenor Hotel for another 125 years." The foundation stone was laid in 1875 and the Edwardian with Georgian influence building was constructed of brick, plaster and Marseilles tile.
Significant elements include corner treatment, orial windows, circular windows, window head detailing, hood moulds, cornice pediments and parapets.
Did you know? When NZ's premier arrived by train he popped in for a quick champagne to clear the soot from his throat before continuing on to Dunedin.
The Street is named after the early pioneer George Buchanan (1833-1922) he had a farm at Willowbridge where he built the first flour mill in the district south of Timaru in 1862.
A colour slide showing the Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru, circa 1985. The slide mount bears the processing date "Oct 85NZ". South Canterbury Museum 2016/053.005
1916 Exterior view of the Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru, circa 1916, photographed by Frederick George Radcliffe. Timaru. F.G.R. 5553 - National Library 1/2-006876-G & hocken.recollect.co.nz/52786 No known copyright or other restrictions on use exist in this image.
Original wooden Grosvenor that got burnt down in fire. Circa 1875 - Picture of Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru