History

The Commercial was the first building on the current site of Murchison. Since then, and even before then, it has had a long and turbulent history.

1864 - township of Hampden was surveyed on low river flats and the first Commercial Hotel was built by Thomas Kerr

1877 - the hotel was bought by the intrepid explorer and prospector George Fairweather Moonlight

1878 - floods ravaged the hotel. Moonlight cleared and felled the timber on higher ground for a new hotel, making it the first building to be erected on the site of Hampden (now Murchison)

1879 - Newman Brothers horse-drawn coach delivers the first mail and passengers to the hotel

1883 - contact with outside world is made with the introduction of the telegraph to the Post Office - managed by the hotel. The town undergoes a name change to Murchison to avoid confusion with another Hampden in the South Island.

1884 - John Rait buys the hotel. The simple two storeyed building gains a new frontage and a new address - from Fairfax Street to Waller Street to align with the new main road into town

1920 - the Prince of Wales visits for lunch in the hotel decorated for the occasion

1922 - a banquet is held at the hotel to celebrate the opening of the Six Mile Hydro Electric power scheme

1927 - disaster strikes again in the form of fire - the hotel is completely destroyed

1928 - a new solid, rough-cast building reinforced with concrete is opened, complete with an addition of a Bank of New Zealand office and robust vault to weigh and store the fortunes of local goldminers and the growing community

1929 - the Murchison Earthquake hits. Measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, it devastates the surrounding area but has only minor damage on the sturdy hotel.

1945 - ownership is transferred to Nelson Hotels Ltd. It remained brewery operated for many years until sold to Dominion Breweries.

1954 - licensee, Victor Hessell is arrested in connection with a payroll robbery near Perth in Australia, thereby ending more than a year living as a congenial country publican

1984 - saw a return to private ownership

2000 onwards - the hotel undergoes major refurbishments with a modern cafe installed in the old hotel dining room. A new frontage with outside seating creates a new theme for the grand old building

Compiled by Bron McKenzie