Community Contributed

Early Levin Hotels

There have been a variety of hotels in Levin. Many no longer exist here.

The Levin Hotel was located on the southern corner of Oxford Street and Queen Street West. Pictured around 1890.

In the Truth of 23 August 1913, E. C. Higgins advertises as proprietress of the Grand Hotel, Levin.
In the Evening Post of 2 July 1914, "Mrs. Higgins, late of the Grand Hotel, Levin, advertises that she has taken over "Oxley's at Picton." The new proprieter was Donald Green.
In the Evening Post of 9 July 1917, Mr. J. T. Levett advertises that he has taken possession of the Grand Hotel in Levin.


The 3 storied Arcadia Private Hotel, located on the northeast corner of Oxford and Bath Streets was built in 1904-1905.
Arcadia
Temperance Hotel, Levin owned by Mr Geo. Washington Phipps, stood opposite the 'Chronicle' in Oxford Street. Mr Phipps had a four-wheeler and often took his wife for a drive up the Avenue on Sundays. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand 1908 shows: Temperance Hotel (Mrs. Buddle, proprietress), Oxford Street, Levin, Established 1893.

The Grand Hotel, Levin
Remembered by Gill and Eddie Spencer told to Chloe Sanson - a year 10 student at Horowhenua College.
Photo shows Hector McDonald III ( son of R A McDonald) on a horse called "Promise" outside The Grand Hotel, Levin. The publican's name was Franche, always wore a beret, a foreigner. The horse went in down a narrow passage and into the front bar, to great hilarity. Franche ordered him out - chased him out, which is when Mrs Wylie took the photograph.

Weraroa Hotel was on the corner of Oxford and Ward Streets - seen here with three 'taxis' waiting outside. The Hotel was burnt down c. 1910-1912.
Built 1895 for Staples Breweries on south-west corner of Ward Street. Mrs Higgens licensee. Burnt down 14 March 1912. (Weraroa Dairy now on site). "Millionaire" White (at left), James Middleton (2nd from left), Charlie Williams (2nd from right), J.W. Hayfield (extreme right). Corrie Swanwick wrote: The leading person in this was Mr Charles Williams, who came to Levin in 1889, becoming the licensee of the Weraroa Hotel. Photo at left shows the Weraroa Hotel, destroyed by fire some time in 1910. The licence then moved to the Grand Hotel which itself was destroyed by fire in 1981. This was sited where the Weraroa dairy is now on the corner of Oxford and Ward Streets. It was a two storied timber building erected in 1895 and was destroyed by fire on March 15, 1912. The Grand Hotel was then built using the liquor licence from the Weraroa Hotel. Regulations then in force restricted the transfer of a licence more than a half mile. As the Grand Hotel, this hotel was gutted by fire in 1981 and now Cobb & Co occupy the site. Charlie Williams was the licensee of the Weraroa Hotel until 1903 when he bought the general store business on the opposite corner, conducting this business, until an unknown date. This shop was a grocery business conducted by various proprietors (except for between 1922 and about 1926 when Mr Harold Hudson used it for his wheelwright business) until 1978 when it was destroyed by fire.
Weraroa Hotel on the corner of Ward Street, and the Levin Railway Station on the left in the distance.
"The Weraroa Hotel (J. F. Meagher, proprietor), Levin. This hotel, situated near the railway station, was built in the year 1895, and is a two-storeyed building. There is an entrance with large folding doors on the main street. On the ground floor there is a commodious commercial room, an office, sitting rooms, the billiard room, a club room, and a dining room capable of seating forty guests. The first floor contains a spacious hall, fifteen bedrooms, two sitting rooms, and bathrooms with hot and cold water laid on. There is a private house, a public hall, and large stables connected with the hotel. The house is well furnished throughout, an excellent table is kept, the best liquors are stocked, and guests receive every attention."	Quote from NZETC Cyclopedia of New Zealand

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