Hamilton Hotel - Waikato Regional Theatre

A virtual attraction.

Well actually a real and a virtual one all at once. The Hamilton Hotel is in itself a heritage cornerstone of the city, but Council has plans for a double whammy by converting it to a new purpose, the 'Waikato Regional Theatre' This plan has been arrived upon by Council, it's contractors and subcommittees, and an international consultancy, following the Council's disposal of the Clarence Street Theatre to a Trust, and subsequent structural failure of Founders Theatre.

Currently the Hamilton Hotel and associated buildings, covering a massive 2900sqm, are in private ownership, with a number of hospitality and retail tenants flourishing. Slightly confusingly, the Wesley Chambers Building, directly across the road, is currently fitted out as a Hotel and it is operating as 'The VR Hamilton Hotel' and also has restaurants on the ground floor.

The sketch for a new future is much more grand. Council wants to rip out the back wall of the block-wide structure and replace it with glass, providing views of the river over the carpark. The theatre itself could have an adjustable stage, moveable side walls and a proscenium arch.

The history of the corner of Victoria Street and Sapper Moore-Jones Place is as colourful as it's proposed future, with the name of the short street being sober but interesting. Sapper Horace Moore Jones was Hamilton's first art teacher and a veteran of Gallipoli, who lost his life here while saving several people from the burning hotel. Moore-Jones was already a valued Hamiltonian before either of these exploits, teaching art for many years and adjusting his age downwards from 46 to get into uniform and to the war. His drawing and mapping became a valued asset in the trenches and though he was not fit for war his visual records are now invaluable and he was also known for providing comfort to ill and injured soldiers. Moore-Jones proved his fitness and gallantry during the hotel fire, saving two people and perishing only on his third entry to the inferno. There is a statue in his honour on Victoria Street, unveiled in 2015 for ANZAC centennial commemorations.

This was not the first time the Hamilton Hotel had caught fire, the first hotel, built in 1865, was entirely razed in 1898, then rebuilt. During earlier times it had gone by the names Bright's Hotel, and Gwynne's Hotel.

Other notes about the long history of the Hamilton Hotel Corner might include the The Queen and Prince Philip staying here on the 1953 royal tour, and in a small irony, the small house adjoining the property, which was initially maid's quarters, later became the Hamilton Theatre, and is now a house again.

Check in here to see how Council unfolds it's grand plan, and if you are passing, please send NZPlaces a photo.

Image Credit: National Library of New Zealand: View of Victoria Street, Hamilton. Photograph taken by William A Price. Dated from the existence of various businesses in Victoria Street in 1908 (See Wise's Post Office Directory 1908). Business signs for R F Sandes (Chemist), Langley Shaw (stock & station agents), and the Peerless Printing Works are all visible, and centre right is the Hamilton Hotel. There are a number of people in the street, including several in carriages, and one man riding a horse.