Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel, at 9 Princes Street, was the leading hotel of Auckland, New Zealand, from 1889 until 1966. With its vaulted ceilings, ornate mantlepieces, red carpet and marble statuary, the Grand Hotel was a plush and social rendezvous from its opening. The leading hotels of Auckland were in the following order: The Grand Hotel, Princes St (closed 1966), the Central Hotel, Victoria St (closed 1970s), the Star Hotel, Albert St (closed 1973), the Royal Hotel, Elliot St (closed 1980s) and the Albert Hotel, Queen St. The Grand Hotel was opened on the 21 April 1889 by Mr Frank Gaudin for the purpose of receiving the Earl and Countess Onslow on their arrival from Britain. The interior was furnished by large paintings collected by Moss Davis...