Historic hotel to re-open

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A refurbished 29-bed luxury hotel managed by Capstone Hotel Management will open in Cambridge this year.

The refurbished lobby

Formerly the Masonic Hotel, which had a presence in the Waipā town since 1866, it is now called The Clements after Archibald Clements who developed the original building.

Capstone managing director Clare Davies said the renovation by owners Gerry Westenberg and Jo Pannell was “stunning”.

“It has been a true labour of love spanning multiple years to preserve many of the hotel’s original features, from the sweeping wooden staircase, stained-glass windows, to the red brick walls and high ceilings.”

The original 150-year-old basement has been converted into an authentic underground speakeasy bar named ‘1866’ and inspired by the iconic speakeasy bars of Chicago.

Masonic Hotel circa 1915-1925. Credit: Price Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library.

Clements was mayor and a member of the road and Waikato Hospital boards before retiring to Auckland, where he died in 1927 aged 91.

The hotel was built of timber for him and rebuilt and enlarged with shops and a billiard saloon in 1878. A balcony was added in 1882.

Fire destroyed the hotel in 1911 and neither the owner Victor Cornaga, who purchased the freehold in 1900, nor the proprietor had much in the way of insurance.

Despite this Cornaga, who had emigrated to New Zealand from Malta in 1857, announced a week later he would rebuild the hotel of brick and commissioned noted architect John Currie to design it. Currie designed several buildings around New Zealand including in Auckland, the Kiwi Tavern in Britomart Place and the Altrans Building in Quay Street.

His Masonic Hotel design was influenced by Beaux Arts, a form of architecture taught in France from the 1830s to the end of the 19th century, although others say it is Edwardian commercial classicism.

It opened to the public in October 1912, seven months after work started.

The hotel’s refurbishment was supported by Heritage New Zealand as the hotel is an historic Category 2 building.

See: Hotel Plans revealed

See: Millions for Masonic

Stable suite

 

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