Know your town
3 Private HotelsFrom the late 1800s through until the early 1900s Martinborough was served at various times by three large accommodation houses. Hotels which did not hold liquor licences. The first was a two storeyed building in Waihenga village – now lower Jellicoe Street – called the ‘Golden Sovereign Hotel’.
This was run by a Mrs Harrison whose husband had been killed during the construction of the wooden bridge over the Ruamahanga river in 1873. The settlement’s first bakers shop was also constructed on the road frontage at that time.
The second was built over the natural waterway on the corner of Grey and Jellicoe Streets. The water running underneath could well have provided a handy sewerage system. The building was constructed right up to the footpath with planks (with handrail) crossing the drain. This was a popular accommodation house with many semi permanent lodgers.
Mr W Barton from White Rock built a substantial building on what is now Kitchener Street. A two storey building with a lounge and dining room in a separate building along with twenty single rooms. This was designated ‘The Halfway House’ , a place half way between White Rock and Wellington where travellers could spend the night before catching the stage coach to Featherston Station and thence to Wellington.
A September 1910 newspaper advertisement headed ‘Glenharven House’ ran : ‘Mrs F Kirby desires to announce that she has resumed possession of the above well known boarding house where she will be pleased to welcome all old friends and customers. First class cuisine. Moderate charges’.
Mrs Kirby had the two story building as her private home. The lounge/dining building was the place of many early Martinborough public gatherings. In the late 1920s there was another name change this time to ‘Mrs Kelly’s Boarding House’ then to the rather grander ‘Grandford Private Hotel’. This was advertised as offering: ‘excellent accommodation for visitors and permanents. Moderate tariff. Telephone 192. Mrs Kelly Proprietress’.
Did the single rooms become Martinborough’s Red Light District?
Mate Higginson
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