1932 - Provincial Hotel. Napier. New Zealand.
S 39° 29.470 E 176° 54.840
60H E 492604 N 5628712
Originally established in 1876, the Provincial Hotel was rebuilt in 1932 after the disasterous Napier Earthquake, and is a fine example of the Spanish Mission Style in the art deco city of Napier.
Waymark Code: WM56X6
Location: New Zealand
Date Posted: 11/20/2008
Views: 7
On Tuesday 3 February 1931 Napier suffered a disastrous earthquake 2.5 minutes in length. The earthquake rocked the town almost totally leveling all buildings in the inner city, killing 162 people (a total of 258 in the Hawke's Bay area), and raising some areas of land by as much as 8 feet. Some 4,000 hectares of sea-bed became dry land and today this sites not only the airport, but also residential and industrial property developments. The extensive rebuilding that took place in the 1930's is the reason for the Art Deco flavour in the City.
The Provincial Hotel on the corner of Emerson Street was completed in 1932. The Architect was Finch and Westerholm and the builder was Holder Bros. The single story, reinforced concrete building was built at a cost of 6700 pounds. The original finish was pink plaster with lettering in buff. The dining room featured a decorative mural by W E Gunn incorporating Maori motifs.
After the 1931 Earthquake the city was rebuilt in the style of that era and by the end of the decade Napier was the newest city on the globe.
Nowhere else can you see such a variety of buildings in the styles of the 1930s - Stripped Classical, Spanish Mission, and above all Art Deco, the style of the 20th Century. Napier's Art Deco is unique, with Maori motifs and the buildings of Louis Hay, admirer of the great Frank Lloyd Wright.
Year of construction: 1932
Full inscription:
1873 PROVINCIAL HOTEL 1932
Cross-listed waymark: Not listed
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