The township of Bunnythorpe lies within the original Manchester Block, purchased from the New Zealand Government by the Colonist's' Land and Loan Corporation Ltd in 1869. A Bunnythorpe railway station was first built in 1875. It was replaced by this smaller building in 1957, which was in turn removed in 1975. The Royal Hotel, originally the Bunnythorpe United Hotel, was built c1890s. A new single storey replacement hotel opened next door in 1973.