We learnt today that one of the city’s long standing holes will finally be filled in. Many people (including myself) have never known it any other way but it hasn’t always been a carpark. The building that used to be on the site – the Royal International Hotel – was demolished in the 1987 just one month before the stock market crash. There were plans at the time for a 32 storey tower. I can’t find anything from just before it was demolished but here’s what the building that occupied the site used to look like in 1905.
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Ah but this wasn’t the last Royal International on this site- i remember a cool 60s one with a ‘crazy paving’ exposed stone fireplace- vaguely; I would have been underage. Some one must have a pic?
Best image I can find:
My Dad used to take us there sometimes as children – not sure why? Maybe for lunch? I think it had some sort of garden area with a waterfall.
Hi Patrick , Greg and all. From my research (and I’m only guessing at this point) the modern “extension” to the Royal International Hotel – the sort of Modern bit, wasn’t built..? It only appears as a drawing in all the images I can find .! ( I wasn’t in Auckland until 90s..)
If it was built why is it no photos exist.? ps I can’t access Greg N ‘s images..
Yes, Patrick; the Royal International (about 1962) was Henry Kelleher’s great, refurbished attempt to give Auckland a modern hotel hence the crazy stone street facade. Inside it remained pretty 19th century which may explain why it was so popular with a certain National party politician who seems to have patronised it for its Wildean undertones!
This Whites Aviation Photo here has a photo from 1947 looking down Victoria from opposite the Hotel, so you can see the white facade on Victoria St side quite clearly.
Its named “WAITEMATA ROYAL HOTEL”, with the “Waitemata” clearly newer than the “Royal Hotel” lettering (i.e. a different font – Helvetica v. Serif font and Dark WAITEMATA versus faded ROYAL HOTEL).
So obviously a recent rename job.
See: http://tapuhi.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/spydus/NAV/GLOBAL/OPHDR/1/1353235 for the record details
This link is for the zoomable picture: http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/content-aggregator/getIEs?system=tapuhi&id=1353235
Photo credit: Whites Aviation Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, description “Victoria Street from the west side, looking towards Albert Park, Auckland”
Patrick/Matt – I assume you can if you need to, download and embed the photo in the post somehow?
Nice, thanks for that.
I see the “corner” facade/tower has been removed in this photo, compared to the 1905 photo, anf the top crenelations or whatever they are are gone too.
But the essence of the building remains in this 1947 image, and I gather from Christopher T’s comment – into the 1962 version as well.
Its also interesting how uncluttered the street looks in 1952 without the painted medians and white lane markings, arrows, and car parking and also you don’t notice the overhead wires for the trams either.
All in all a clean looking street even with the cars parked on it – will we ever manage to get it back to this look in the future?
No because there will be a linear park along the road.
But thats much better than what we have now.
Trolley bus wires perhaps? There’s no rails, and my “tram bible” with all of NZ’s tram routes doesn’t show them running on Victoria Street.
Steve – You are right. The wires are trolley bus wires for the Farmers free trolley bus on its return journey from Farmers Department Store to its city bus stop immediately around the corner from Queen Street at the bottom of Wyndham Street.
For those interested – this link gets a street view of the same scene today: http://goo.gl/maps/uj3wu
There is something very satisfying about the scale of the older picture – nice uneven roof lines – not too tall – interestingly detailed facades – no bland glass clad buildings in sight – a really human scale – eminently suitable for people !!
And the University TOWER in the distance !
forgive my ignorance but what is the location of this “hole”? It’s not mentioned anywhere in the post …
The one from the post before, The site that is currently used as a carpark on Elliott St, right next to the future Aotea CRL station
It’s bounded by Victoria, Albert and Elliott Streets. It’s very much a hole from the Albert Street side!
Has anything actually happened on the site yet? Have plans advanced beyond the concept stage?
Last time I walked through the area, the carpark was still very much… a carpark 🙁
Yes, the site of the Royal International in the first part of the 20th century was a series of shops. Check out the 1908 City of Auckland Map on the Council Archives site, and photo 1-W939 on Heritage Images Online (which you’ll find by just searching for Royal International) .
I remember having green beer in there one St. Patrick’s day. The old pub was a hell of a lot better looking than the ugly building that was demolished in 1987.
Now there is just the old Auckland Star site to go! That’s another disgraceful blot on Auckland City’s “planners”.
Well I think the problem is that we don’t charge enough rates on at grade car parking so we incentive land owners to demolish difficult buildings and rent out the rubble for parking… or perhaps we over value old underperforming buildings so their rating bill is out of proportion to their income potential…. somewhere in there there is the ability to help to maintain the built fabric of the city.
Some councils (Ruapehu District, for example) charge rates only on the unimproved value of land, which provides an incentive to keep sites in use. Same dollar value of rates whether you use the land for car parking or a building.
It seems bizarre, really, that we levy a tax on property that depends on whether it’s possible to move that property or not. Build a $200,000 house, it attracts rates. Park $200,000 worth of cars on a lot, and you don’t pay anything for that value. If we’re charging for the value that people get from council services, the land value reflects that more accurately, and economists generally think it’s more efficient – since land can’t be created or destroyed, a land tax creates no damaging perverse incentives.
Yes, that’s common practice in many countries, even for residential. Eg my mum moved to another apartment, and the house was until sold empty. So we had to pay double rates. Would not be a bad idea for AKL too. I see every day when heading to work so many sites either used as car park, or even worse really run down and abandoned.
Wonder how many owners an empty site has had in 26 years.
It has been a carpark for as long as I remember – although I am technically old enough to remember its previous state. Way past time that something decent was built there.
My parents were licencees of the Royal Holel from 1940 to 1948 from memory, it was one of the leading hotels in Auckland at that time, it was an exciting time to growup there during the war years, I was 17 when we left there I was always sad that it was demolished it was lovely in it’s day.
I worked there as a night porter about 1985. It was haunted. I have often wondered what those spirits did all this time while it was only a hole in the ground with parked cars.
Val, When we lived in the hotel there were no buses, only trams in Queen St., the middle of Victoria St. Was taken up with trucks parked in a line waiting for cartage work, hard to believe now, sometimes there were 20 or so waiting.
Does anyone remember a young Hungarian male, who worked in the Bistro of the hotel in 1963 and possibly went on to open his own restaurant. Just a long shot, am trying to track down my husband’s birth father. That’s the only information we have on him unfortunately.
The Royal International Hotel’s revamp in 1962/63 followed on from the re-branding of the Commercial Hotel in Shortland St to De Bretts (DB) ..
Many of the same people were involved, including Scarborough Bros. stonemasons who did the amazing bistro rock wall, fountain and exterior stonework that went around the corner from Victoria St into Elliott..
It also probably had a mural by James Turkington somewhere in the place…?
(pictures of the revamped hotel appear in the Herald of the time, and will later be on http://www.lostproperty.org.nz site after this years Heritage Festival exhibition about Scarborough Bros – at the Depot Gallery)
I was born in 1977, and my dad (Neville Francis Markwell) was the manager for about 4-5 yrs after that.
I have fond memories still of this place. I even have a ghost story from there.
I’m deeply saddened that it has been demolished.
I was saddened also when i saw the hotel not there anymore
i worked at the Royal when you were very young you had a accident you fell over an put something through the roof of your mouth
the hotel was a great place to work
Hi, I remember your dad. He worked there when my dad, Russell Matthews was the manager. Pretty sure I’ve got at least one photo of your dad. It was an awesome place to live and we have great memories of being “behind the scenes”
Michelle? I remember It too. Wee garden in the back.
Sean? Your mum and dad aren’t called Carol and Roy are they?
Alan Wall what an amazing memory you have .couldn’t believe what.i was reading . I am Andrew Markwell,s mother and remember the incident like it was yesterday . Plastic toy gun in his mouth and walked into the plate glass door ……. .ending in 5 stitches in roof off his mouth , very frightening….Loved our time in the hotel …. Big fish pond in reception . Which dep did you work in Alan .
I started cleaning bars and stuff worked with the house mades also done room service when needed ended up as a kitchen hand i was young and i learned a lot from my time at the royal international hotel i remember you and your husband well i hope you and your family are well
Regards Alan
Does anyone know of some one who worked there in end of 1966 – 1967 want information on a David who was a wine waiter.
I live in Te Kuiti and yesterday found a dinner plate from the Royal Hotel which made me curious as to it’s history, and does it still exist (which I understand now that it has been demolished). I found your name on the comments about it and thought I’d start with you as i can’t find any info at the moment. I was born in Auckland in 1948 but moved to the King Country with my parents when I was 5 yrs old. Perhaps there may even be a ‘collector’ out there, so may put it on TradeMe to sell. – Jan
Hey Jan, do you still have that plate..?
know its been a while however..
In my late grandparent’s belongings, I found two New Year’s Eve Party dinner menu’s from 1942 & 1944. I am assuming that the dinner’s were hosted by Mr. & Mrs. J. Lineen’s as these names are printed in the dinner menus. The 1942 dinner menu has Royal Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand on it. The 1944 dinner menu has Waitemata Royal Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand on it. Very nice and elegant dinner menu’s I have.
I am writing to you all from Springfield, Illinois, USA
Anyone remember the days of the Cascade Bar, amazing band, fun fun times around 1975, oh the wonderful memories!
ah, sue, i remember it well. live music and dancing, i was a bartender there. mike treen was the manager. friday nights the line up at the door was massive. 1971 to 1973, canadian bartender was i. very fond memeroies. 10 oclock closing allowed us guys to get to the house parties.
Does anyone know whatever happened to Paul Preston the entertainer who worked here during the mid – late 70s
I believe he has since passed but he was a notorious child molester.
That indeed he was he ruined many young lives
He moved to the African lion Safari paraparaumu around 1980 to 1982 when the park closed
As the manager.
And people need to know that this man Paul Preston interfered with many very young children
I worked at the Royal Hotel till its last days and so loved this building with so much sprit and soul, I was there when this grand old girl closed its doors for the last time. I still have items, photos, if interested to view, how I miss her.
Hi Nick! Do you have any photos of the Royal Hotel? Are the owners or corporation still around? I have two dinner menu from 1942 & 1944 that my grandparents had in their belongs.
Hi Donavin, yes I have many photos that I would like to share if I knew how to upload them to the site.
The owners at the time were Domion Brewery’s, till it was close due the the recession of 84, while it stood, till they planed what to do?
80s Street kids broke in and lit up a fire to keep warm, burnt out the heart of the grand old girl, in turn just leaving a shell of her former grand self, I have still the front page newspaper showing the Royal Hotel in flames. It was the end too 124 years
Hi Nick, I’m sure others would love to see the photos too.
The easiest way would be to load them up to an image hosting site, such as imgur, then sharing the links in a comment.
And just one word of advice: I think with above three links the comment gets put into moderation automatically and it might take a while for the comment to show. Whereas if you limit each comment to have just three links or fewer the comment is accepted as normal. For some hosting sites, you’ll be able to put them all in one link, I imagine.
Thank you so much Heidi, with your help will work on it this weekend, hope to start posting photos by next, as I have so many to share.
A brief history about this hotel.
https://flic.kr/p/2jgjF2S
https://flic.kr/p/2jgjLT6
The Royal International Hotel Post card from the 60’s
https://flic.kr/p/2jgnGdX
Hi Nick, do you happen to have any photos showing the western elevation of the building that was alongside the service lane?
Does anyone remember the old time night show that was a the royal international hotel
Hi Hunter, Im not sure of the area you are asking of.
Is that I could only discribe as an inclosed private lane that lead to the main kitchen on ground floor
To all.. I have giving away many photos of the Royal International year’s back now, however I have many still, and most are very dark in appearance, I assume taken without a reasonable flash. If you would like to request certain selections please email me.
I. Not having luck trying to post on site, but would like to share as not to be lost.
2. I’m more than happy to share, and would be so happy if you could clean them up and post and display on this Royal International Hotel page.
nz_gates_nz@yahoo.co.nz
History well worth protecting
Good on you. Yes, email is more straightforward.
My Auntie/Guardian worked at the hotel for a time around 1964.
I helped her some evenings collecting shoes from outside the rooms for polishing and return. She came home one evening very proud to have ‘stolen’ a brandy balloon used by Robert Muldoon.
Hey there Sue, question.. Did the cacade room and bar have a running wall fountain it it, or more the house bar that had the colours of jade featured along with a green stone Maori head statue on the bar
nick, see my response to Sue’s post. i do not remember a fountain in the cascade. i worked as a barman from 71 to 73. the tavern/bar manager was a fellow by the name of vic. his main job was with and elevator repair or install company. 50 yrs ago and the memory is a little clouded. vic and i scored some tickets to the live production of hair. cops were everywhere and they wanted to shut it down because of the nude scene. you blinked and missed it. oh the memories.