The Elegant Empire; London Street's Iconic Hotel

London Street has long been an integral commercial hub of Ōhinehou Lyttelton, extending to the Norwich Quay thoroughfare via the arteries of Canterbury and Oxford streets. A dominant feature of the streetscape from the first years’ of the colonial town were the successive establishments on Townsite 31, 9-11 London Street.

The first European structure on the site was “Mr Fairhurst's Assembly Rooms” of 1865, also briefly known as “The Billiard Room” and “The Shades” (wine vault and lounge). Utilised for a variety of entertainment and civic purposes, including choral and theatrical performances, fundraising events and electoral meetings, such salutary activities were curtailed when the building became a victim of the 1870 Great Fire along with most of the rest of the central town block.

Post fire, in 1871 a two storey wooden hotel named the Empire was built, albeit that its construction was marred by disagreements between the Lyttelton Borough Council surveyor and owner Joseph Dransfield's own surveyor regarding the necessary depth (18 or 14 inches) and materials (mortar versus clay) of the foundations. It appears that the Council lacked the authority to stop the project, although their concerns were recorded for indemnity against any failure or accident.

The 1873 photograph clearly shows one post fire concession to safety; a brick fire wall is evident on the eastern side of the building, intended to stop conflagration across neighbouring sites. Visible in the roadway just beyond the Empire's verandah, (ubiquitous of this era), is one of a number of public wells around the developing township, when accessible water supply for both drinking and fire fighting was a critical issue.

W Kiddey opened Lyttelton's first “Dive” bar beneath the hotel in 1872; however the Empire retained its more widely used name through numerous ownership and licencee changes for the rest of its lifespan. For nearly thirty years from 1885 to 1914 the Crown Brewery Company held ownership, leasing the building to a succession of licencees, their distinctive branding on proud display throughout the changes.

In 1914, requirements by the Lyttelton Licensing Committee for structural alterations to be made prior to licence renewal may have been behind the decision taken to rebuild. After auctioning of chattels, and demolition, a much grander two storey hotel in the then popular “Renaissance Style” was built of brick and stone. Attractive arched ground floor windows contrasted with those on the second storey, which were edged with quoins and moulded hoods. With substantial chimneys, a balustraded roof cornice and similar detailing below the first floor windows, the whole created a significant architectural statement on London Street.

Our 1920's image looking westward along the street shows the dominance of the Empire in a town well served by drinking establishments; it is second in stature only to the art deco towers of the Harbour Light Theatre. Collett's Chemist and Pitcaithly Butchers are its immediate neighbours; the bulk of the Empire is mirrored by that of the War Memorial in its unlikely (and short-lived) location in the centre of the intersection of London and Oxford streets.

The mid-century photograph of a tractor towing a load of timber on London Street, with the Empire’s windows dressed in rows of neatly laundered net curtains, has signage suggesting that on a hot day, Crown Sparkling Ale was still the thirst quencher of choice! Ensuing years saw a continuing succession of owners and licensees.

In 2006, a comprehensive refit and refurbishment was undertaken. In addition to providing accommodation and a popular public bar, a “General Store” fronting the street sold, amongst other necessities, their famously enormous ice creams. It appeared these were especially popular with Russian seamen; often seen strolling the main drag of a winter afternoon consuming the huge frozen treats.

The 4 September 2010 earthquake badly damaged the Empire's stone facade; it was solidly braced with a view to repair but the more damaging 22 February 2011 earthquake necessitated a controlled demolition of the building. To date, the site of the long-serving waterhole is on the market alongside neighbouring Collett's Corner site. Whilst it awaits redevelopment it plays host every Saturday to the Craft and Treasure market.