The rebuilding of towns was welcomed by residents because it was thought to show progress. The first image captures the demolition of the old, frontier-era Chavanne's Victoria Hotel in Whanganui in 1870, with the ends of the new building on either side. So the hotel could carry on trading, the ends of the new building were constructed around the old building. When these were completed, the old building was levelled and the new one completed. The second photograph shows the new, grander hotel a decade later.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, William James Harding Collection (PAColl-3042)
Reference: 1/1-000121-G (top)
by William James Harding
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.