Story: Hotels and motels

Ground-floor plan, Ōamaru hotel, 1863 (1st of 2)

This ground-floor plan shows the layout of a typical mid-19th century hotel. The hotel has three public entrances – one directly into the main bar, which shows it was located on a street corner. The other two entrances are on separate streets, highlighting the hotel's two grades of accommodation. The rooms to the right of the bar were probably for workers, and those on the other side for wealthier guests – they have a grander staircase and bar parlour. Both sorts of guests could mingle in the public bar, but they had separate dining rooms and their own billiard rooms (one upstairs).

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: Plans-99-020-008
Plans by William Beatson

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.

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How to cite this page:

Paul Christoffel, 'Hotels and motels - Types of early hotels', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/21264/ground-floor-plan-oamaru-hotel-1863 (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Paul Christoffel, published 11 Mar 2010