Improvements To Historic Hotel At Queenstown

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28160, 26 December 1956, Page 5

Improvements To Historic Hotel At Queenstown

“The Press’* Special Service

DUNEDIN, December 25. Since the Government has taken over the widely-known Eiohardt's Hotel in Queenstown, alterations are being made which will cost £ 8000. In the new year these alterations will continue and 60 bedrooms are to be added in a new block at the rear. The hotel, which dates back in most of its present structure to 1871, goes back in site still further. Mr W. G. Rees, the first runholder on that shore of Lake Wakatipu, had his woolshed where the hotel now stands. When the influx of gold miners drove him out to set up home again at Kawarau Falls, he built a wooden hotel on the site of the woolshed for a shanty town had sprung up where his camp used to be. The next stage began when Ser-geant-major Branigan, of the Mounted Constabulary, the trooper who arrested the ruffians Kelly and Burgess, took charge. He was a good influence in the town and his hotel was the venue for most of the meetings that had to

do with the betterment of Queenstown.

Branigan left Wakatipu for the West Coast and sold out to Captain Eichardt, a Prussian officer, who rebuilt the hotel in stone —the corner portion of the present building. It is this part that has given the renovators the most difficulty, for in plr :es the walls showed signs of age and needed attention.

Wall-to-wall carpet with sponge rubber underneath has been laid in all rooms. The paintwork and paperhanging. especially in the very handsome dining room with its novel wall effect and striking ceiling, is particularly fine.

Guests are still being received. When they have departed, the additions will be started which, when finished, will put Eichardt’s into the five-star class.