Huruni Hotel up for sale

Press, 24 September 1980, Page 3

Huruni Hotel up for sale

The 110-year-old Hurunui Hotel will be sold by’ tender later this year, the new owners to -take possession by’ March, 1981.

Mrs Frances Bryson has | been the owner of '2 hotel since 1962 and intends regaining a portion of the hotel property’ on which to build a house to retire with her husband. Tenders for the hotel are expected to close by’ midNovember, and a further section of land which adjoins the hotel will be! offered at a later date to the; successful tenderer. | The hotel has one of the' oldest continuous licences ini Canterbury, dating back to! July 1, 1860. The original! hotel was opened on that| day but replaced by the j present structure nine years; later.

The original lease required the first owner. Mr John Hastie, to keep eight beds in four bedrooms and to provide weather-tight accommodation for six horses. Hewas also required to keep a horse at the house to get foot passengers across the Hurunui River and to assist strangers with a safe fording. In 1864. Cobb and Company started a coach service from Christchurch which took eight hours to reach the hotel.

A bridge across the Hurunui River was built in 1868 about a kilometre downsteam from the original hotel. This is where the present building was erected, in 1869.