Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2020 12:56:13 GMT 12
I happened across this article from the Evening Post from the 12th of February 1944. This place was one of the accommodation barracks for the RNZAF ITW trainees during 1942 and 1943. This seems a hugely generous donation.
Looking at Google Maps the hotel no longer exists as it's the site of a monstrous council building now, sadly. I wonder when the RSA disposed of it. It must have been a very valuable asset. Even the Rotorua RSA is gone now, closed down a couple of years ago I believe.
Here's a photo of the hotel from the National Library's website:
Like here
Looking at Google Maps the hotel no longer exists as it's the site of a monstrous council building now, sadly. I wonder when the RSA disposed of it. It must have been a very valuable asset. Even the Rotorua RSA is gone now, closed down a couple of years ago I believe.
PROPERTY AS HOSTEL
GIFT TO ROTORUA R.S.A.
P A ROTORUA, This Day. "Through the generosity of Mrs. A. C. McDowell, of Auckland, but for many years resident at Rotorua, the Rotorua Returned Services Association has become endowed with one of the finest gifts ever made to a branch of the R.S.A. in New Zealand. Subject to a very small annuity during her lifetime, Mrs. McDowell has made a free gift to the association of the property known as the Grande Vue Private Hotel. This property, which is a twostorey structure overlooking the Government Gardens, contains approximately 60 rooms on half an acre pf ground. The value is approximately fy cnnn Mrs. McDowell's intention is that the association should convert the property into a servicemen's hostel. The property is at present under a lease which expires in November. It was recently vacated by the Air Force.
GIFT TO ROTORUA R.S.A.
P A ROTORUA, This Day. "Through the generosity of Mrs. A. C. McDowell, of Auckland, but for many years resident at Rotorua, the Rotorua Returned Services Association has become endowed with one of the finest gifts ever made to a branch of the R.S.A. in New Zealand. Subject to a very small annuity during her lifetime, Mrs. McDowell has made a free gift to the association of the property known as the Grande Vue Private Hotel. This property, which is a twostorey structure overlooking the Government Gardens, contains approximately 60 rooms on half an acre pf ground. The value is approximately fy cnnn Mrs. McDowell's intention is that the association should convert the property into a servicemen's hostel. The property is at present under a lease which expires in November. It was recently vacated by the Air Force.
Here's a photo of the hotel from the National Library's website:
Like here
