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Description

Designed by Christchurch architect, Joseph Clarkson Maddison, this highly decorated ‘Second Empire’ building is the only example of the style in Palmerston North. ‘Empire’ in this context refers to the French Empire of Napoleon III.

The four-storey £17,000 Grand Hotel opened on 15 June 1907. The Grand became the town’s most elaborate building of the period. Containing 59 single and double bedrooms, the building, which was erected by Messrs Trevor & Sons, took about 800,000 bricks and 2,400 bags of cement to construct, excluding that used for plastering. The observation tower, above the street corner, stood 24 metres tall, with a 4.5 metre flagpole atop that. This was, therefore, one of Palmerston North’s tallest buildings, and certainly its most up-market hotel for many years.

The landmark tower was removed in 1963, although its base remains. The imposing main staircase, probably carved by local carvers, Messrs Payne & Co., is now the building’s only authentic interior feature.

Identification

Object type
Image
Relation
IMCA Digital Archive
Date
June 2020
Digitisation ID
2020BD_IMCA-DigitalMaster_031927
Format
Born Digital

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Taxonomy

Tags
2020s,
architects,
architecture,
buildings,
grand hotel,
historic building,
the square,
Community Tags

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Related items

161-163 The Square – Mowlem Buildings (a.k.a. ‘Bares Buildings’)
36 The Square – ‘Childs’ building’, now Lone Star Café & Bar
Ladies’ Rest Room, The Square
145-148 The Square, 5-21 Rangitikei Street, 288-302 Cuba Street - @ the hub
1-3 The Square – former Union Bank of Australia/ANZ Chambers
4-11 The Square – CM Ross Co. Building, now the Palmerston North City Library
476-482 Main Street - The Square Centre, former Public Library
126-136 The Square – Former Palmerston North Chief Post Office
149-152 The Square – Westside Chambers, former ‘M.L.C. Building’
Palmerston North Civic Administration Building, The Square
85-88 the Square - Bryants Building
141 The Square – Imperial Chambers