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Schroders Central Hotel, Hokitika. 1954.
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DescriptionGordon McIntosh said this hotel was on the corner of Stafford and Fitzherbert Streets in Hokitika, right next to the railway and the railway footbridge at Hokitika railway station.
A still taken from a film shared from NGĀ TAONGA SOUND & VISION WELLINGTON.
Pic 2:
Michael Havill: It ended its days looking like this. I don't know the date of the fire. I think I took this photo maybe late 1980's ??.Date of Photo1954.Map[1] ContributorClaire Ward
A still taken from a film shared from NGĀ TAONGA SOUND & VISION WELLINGTON.
Pic 2:
Michael Havill: It ended its days looking like this. I don't know the date of the fire. I think I took this photo maybe late 1980's ??.Date of Photo1954.Map[1] ContributorClaire Ward
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)Hokitika
Category Information
Category TagHotels
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CommentsWayne Cannan
Was still there but only a Single story building for many years until it burnt down I think
Elizabeth Mehrtens
Yes it did not sure what yr ,a petrol self help out let it now on completion .Worked there and managed it for DB , sad loss to the town.
Rod Berry
I think Duncan Davidson own it at the time of the fire.?
Martin Burt
Yes he did. I did like to have a beer with Duncan...
Pauline Tucker
We stayed at the Central in 1961 when we moved back to Hokitika. It was fun - the Schroders were wonderful hosts.
Michael Havill
That's nice to hear. Carl and Phyllis Schroder were my grandparents. My mother Carol was brought up there. We have more photos, and I was only saying to her last week she should write a history on the Dowells, then Schroders Central Hotel.
Lesley Ashby
Remember it well. And there was an overhead bridge across the railway lines to the other side. There was a car park around the back.
Malcolm Howell
Carl Schroder run the hotel in 1972. The last time I was in the hotel I saw NZ pop icon Craig Scott perform there.
Chris Mathieson
And just in the corner to the far left is the old convent boarding school.
Lynnette Beirne
I had a few raspberry and lemonades and packets of chips sitting in the car outside with other kids doing the same
We used to run up and down the steps of the over bridge over the railway tracks
Michael Havill
and play on the Pioneer Statue (now relocated downtown).
Lesley Ashby
Remember it well. And there was an overhead bridge across the railway lines to the other side. There was a car park around the back.
Malcolm Howell
Carl Schroder run the hotel in 1972. The last time I was in the hotel I saw NZ pop icon Craig Scott perform there.
Chris Mathieson
And just in the corner to the far left is the old convent boarding school.
Lynnette Beirne
It was my late brother Arthur Wickes favourite hotel in his younger days
Don Hutton
Did they pump 3 different brands of beer along the bar - Fords, Westland and Monteiths? Mr Schroder was the proprietor in 1956 - 59.
Carol Havill
My home until I married and have some great memories. One not so great was how scared I was walking over the bridge to school on a frosty winter day it was so steep and slippery. When I was older I could sneak through the railway carriages.
Alan Messenger
First pub I ever had a beer in, age 16
Don Hutton
At age 18 I boarded opposite the pub over the railway line in Fitzherbert St with Mrs Upjohn in 1956. I remember the Schroder children who were just a bit younger than me.
Kevin Bell
Great to see all the photos of some of the old hotels in Hokitika.Brings back a lot of memories.Thanks for posting.
Susan Hustwick
I worked for Paula and lloyd Dowell in my holidays as kitchen hand for Mrs Holly Schroder and Alison Topham (to become Teen) both were wonderful to work with and great cooks. About 1972...the Milk Powder Factory was being built and the workers boarded there which was good business for the hotel. When we were kids, the Central was a favourite hotel for special family occasions as my grandparents Arch and May Howat were friends of Carl and Phyllis Schroder. We kids would run around the balconies and we thought is was about 6 stories high, very exciting! I hope my memories are correct
Mike Tyree
We all liked to have a beer with Duncan because he was your mate.
Dave Lyes
Got kicked out just after I bought my second beer. A school teacher objected to me being in school uniform, hahaha
Michael Havill
It ended its days looking like this. I don't know the date of the fire. I think I took this photo maybe late 1980's ??.
No photo description available.
Don Hutton
Very appropriate location of two important town services in close proximity!!
Robyn Turner
This is how it looked when I worked there
Amber Long
They did a mean fish and chip there in the early to mid '90s!
Ken Reece
as a young carpenter working for Percy Goodfellow, i did a lot of work on the ol 2 story pub...including building the first bottle store ,behind the double doors on the corner....also enjoyed the'occasional'beer after work
Gary Keown
had a few drinks in there my self
Jonesy Liss'a
Joan Duncan
Yep we duncans drank there toAlan Messenger
I had my first beer in a pub there in 1953 after a bikerace from Greymouth.
Lynnette Beirne
I had many raspberry and lemonades and packs of chips along with other kids in the car park and we used to run over the railway over bridge and back
Michael Havill
I took that second photo in 1988. Burnt to the ground 20 August 2001.
Stephen Murray
Had a great pool and darts team back in the day
Martin James
My family purchased the long case clock from the hotel
Michael Havill
Martin James that's good news, I thought it might have been destroyed in the fire
Neroli Johnson
had my 21st birthday there.
Greg Taylor
if that corner could talk would be some awesome story's
Stephen Foster
Thursday night jam session was alway a great night Friday work wasn’t that much fun tho
Miriama Johnsen
Stephen Foster Thursday was good alright
Sally Max Bateup
Janet Wilson Heidi Hunter
Robert Wilson
Kevin Bell
Many a happy night spent there
Alan Messenger
I had my first beer in a pub there in 1953 after a bikerace from Greymouth.
Lynnette Beirne
I had many raspberry and lemonades and packs of chips along with other kids in the car park and we used to run over the railway over bridge and back
Michael Havill
I took that second photo in 1988. Burnt to the ground 20 August 2001.
Stephen Murray
Had a great pool and darts team back in the day
Martin James
My family purchased the long case clock from the hotel
Michael Havill
Martin James that's good news, I thought it might have been destroyed in the fire
Neroli Johnson
had my 21st birthday there.
Greg Taylor
if that corner could talk would be some awesome story's
Stephen Foster
Thursday night jam session was alway a great night Friday work wasn’t that much fun tho
Miriama Johnsen
Stephen Foster Thursday was good alright
Kevin Bell
Many a happy night spent there
Geoff Belcher
Carl Schroder was my grandmother's brother.
Lynnette Beirne
Geoff Belcher was that Mrs Cowan
Geoff Belcher
Yes. Nellie Cowan was my Grandmother on my mother's side
Julie Growcott
Glynis Condon
Robert Schroder Judith Schroder Colin Growcott
Dean Hetherington
Had my 21st birthday party in the front bar - 1992
Beanz Sandrey
Had few after work beers on friday nites in there.rather handy being right next to irvines/rail yard
Fiona Love
Tom Jones - the first night you came to town, I asked you to dance, lifelong besties
Les Ellis
Had many late nights at the Central. Lots of good fun had there.
Kevin Bell
It wasn't as much fun when we reached the legal age Les.
Cecily Woolhouse
A few hangovers from late nights here, a blast from the past.
Trevor Hutt
Got horrible messed up in there a few times.
Sheldon Kirby
Burnt down 20th August 2001 along with my first pool cue .
Mark Thomas
Sheldon Kirby
Braithwaite had it aye , but it was only a single story building from what I remember
Kevin Schroder
It was fun running out out the back door and hiding by the rail trucks when the Cops arrived at the front door. Three rings and you bolted out the back maybe we were under age. A well run business with two brothers pouring the drinks.
Alan Mitchell
Kevin Schroder one long ring it was the police, three short ring was a customer wanting in after hours
Kevin Schroder
Alan Mitchell you could correct Alan
Sharon Singer
I met and married my husband from the central we met on the first night mum and dad took over the central happy times and sad times love love loved it
John Ryall
Also had a beer or two didn’t like Fords beer
Joel Murdoch
That is one hell of a transformation...
Lynnette Beirne
My late brother Arthur Wickes got busted one night when underage and in the bottle store ordering flagons for the boys my Dad who was in the bar recognised his voice and popped his head around and went what are you up too?
After they Dad got the flagons and the boys had the lounge at home to drink and party in
Greg Mait
Had some bloody good nights in that one. Surprise Surprise.
Jeanne Godfrey
Great memories of Gordon Ramsey banging out the tunes.
Dave Holley
Enid Holley is this where Gran worked back in the day?
Enid Holley
Dave Holley yes it is the hotel..
Ted Schroder
My home 1941 to 1964 when I left Hokitika to study at Durham University. My bedroom was on the second floor facing the rail yards. Good to hear from you all.
Kevin Schroder
Yes your Gran was a great cook and a lovely person as well.
Nita Miles
Many great memories of school holidays spent there,with our coaster family.xx
Dave Maitland
First bar job I had was at the central hotel, Friday and Saturday night started at 18, had to fake it for a time, great pub, publican, staff and punters.
Fun times every night
Karen Stuart
Married in that church and reception at the Central.. wow thanks for sharing
Dave Lyes
Was having a 7 at the bar and my school teacher came up to me and said "Mr Lyes, you are pushing it a bit with your school shirt on". I left forthwith. Lol.
Kath Rogers
My brother Jim Atkinson had his 21st there. Carol Schroder went to St Mary’s. She was a good swimmer
Ronrangi McMullan
Wonder if that's Dad's bike leaning on the wall outside the main bar??
Was still there but only a Single story building for many years until it burnt down I think
Elizabeth Mehrtens
Yes it did not sure what yr ,a petrol self help out let it now on completion .Worked there and managed it for DB , sad loss to the town.
Rod Berry
I think Duncan Davidson own it at the time of the fire.?
Martin Burt
Yes he did. I did like to have a beer with Duncan...
Pauline Tucker
We stayed at the Central in 1961 when we moved back to Hokitika. It was fun - the Schroders were wonderful hosts.
Michael Havill
That's nice to hear. Carl and Phyllis Schroder were my grandparents. My mother Carol was brought up there. We have more photos, and I was only saying to her last week she should write a history on the Dowells, then Schroders Central Hotel.
Lesley Ashby
Remember it well. And there was an overhead bridge across the railway lines to the other side. There was a car park around the back.
Malcolm Howell
Carl Schroder run the hotel in 1972. The last time I was in the hotel I saw NZ pop icon Craig Scott perform there.
Chris Mathieson
And just in the corner to the far left is the old convent boarding school.
Lynnette Beirne
I had a few raspberry and lemonades and packets of chips sitting in the car outside with other kids doing the same
We used to run up and down the steps of the over bridge over the railway tracks
Michael Havill
and play on the Pioneer Statue (now relocated downtown).
Lesley Ashby
Remember it well. And there was an overhead bridge across the railway lines to the other side. There was a car park around the back.
Malcolm Howell
Carl Schroder run the hotel in 1972. The last time I was in the hotel I saw NZ pop icon Craig Scott perform there.
Chris Mathieson
And just in the corner to the far left is the old convent boarding school.
Lynnette Beirne
It was my late brother Arthur Wickes favourite hotel in his younger days
Don Hutton
Did they pump 3 different brands of beer along the bar - Fords, Westland and Monteiths? Mr Schroder was the proprietor in 1956 - 59.
Carol Havill
My home until I married and have some great memories. One not so great was how scared I was walking over the bridge to school on a frosty winter day it was so steep and slippery. When I was older I could sneak through the railway carriages.
Alan Messenger
First pub I ever had a beer in, age 16
Don Hutton
At age 18 I boarded opposite the pub over the railway line in Fitzherbert St with Mrs Upjohn in 1956. I remember the Schroder children who were just a bit younger than me.
Kevin Bell
Great to see all the photos of some of the old hotels in Hokitika.Brings back a lot of memories.Thanks for posting.
Susan Hustwick
I worked for Paula and lloyd Dowell in my holidays as kitchen hand for Mrs Holly Schroder and Alison Topham (to become Teen) both were wonderful to work with and great cooks. About 1972...the Milk Powder Factory was being built and the workers boarded there which was good business for the hotel. When we were kids, the Central was a favourite hotel for special family occasions as my grandparents Arch and May Howat were friends of Carl and Phyllis Schroder. We kids would run around the balconies and we thought is was about 6 stories high, very exciting! I hope my memories are correct
Mike Tyree
We all liked to have a beer with Duncan because he was your mate.
Dave Lyes
Got kicked out just after I bought my second beer. A school teacher objected to me being in school uniform, hahaha
Michael Havill
It ended its days looking like this. I don't know the date of the fire. I think I took this photo maybe late 1980's ??.
No photo description available.
Don Hutton
Very appropriate location of two important town services in close proximity!!
Robyn Turner
This is how it looked when I worked there
Amber Long
They did a mean fish and chip there in the early to mid '90s!
Ken Reece
as a young carpenter working for Percy Goodfellow, i did a lot of work on the ol 2 story pub...including building the first bottle store ,behind the double doors on the corner....also enjoyed the'occasional'beer after work
Gary Keown
had a few drinks in there my self
Jonesy Liss'a
Joan Duncan
Yep we duncans drank there toAlan Messenger
I had my first beer in a pub there in 1953 after a bikerace from Greymouth.
Lynnette Beirne
I had many raspberry and lemonades and packs of chips along with other kids in the car park and we used to run over the railway over bridge and back
Michael Havill
I took that second photo in 1988. Burnt to the ground 20 August 2001.
Stephen Murray
Had a great pool and darts team back in the day
Martin James
My family purchased the long case clock from the hotel
Michael Havill
Martin James that's good news, I thought it might have been destroyed in the fire
Neroli Johnson
had my 21st birthday there.
Greg Taylor
if that corner could talk would be some awesome story's
Stephen Foster
Thursday night jam session was alway a great night Friday work wasn’t that much fun tho
Miriama Johnsen
Stephen Foster Thursday was good alright
Sally Max Bateup
Janet Wilson Heidi Hunter
Robert Wilson
Kevin Bell
Many a happy night spent there
Alan Messenger
I had my first beer in a pub there in 1953 after a bikerace from Greymouth.
Lynnette Beirne
I had many raspberry and lemonades and packs of chips along with other kids in the car park and we used to run over the railway over bridge and back
Michael Havill
I took that second photo in 1988. Burnt to the ground 20 August 2001.
Stephen Murray
Had a great pool and darts team back in the day
Martin James
My family purchased the long case clock from the hotel
Michael Havill
Martin James that's good news, I thought it might have been destroyed in the fire
Neroli Johnson
had my 21st birthday there.
Greg Taylor
if that corner could talk would be some awesome story's
Stephen Foster
Thursday night jam session was alway a great night Friday work wasn’t that much fun tho
Miriama Johnsen
Stephen Foster Thursday was good alright
Kevin Bell
Many a happy night spent there
Geoff Belcher
Carl Schroder was my grandmother's brother.
Lynnette Beirne
Geoff Belcher was that Mrs Cowan
Geoff Belcher
Yes. Nellie Cowan was my Grandmother on my mother's side
Julie Growcott
Glynis Condon
Robert Schroder Judith Schroder Colin Growcott
Dean Hetherington
Had my 21st birthday party in the front bar - 1992
Beanz Sandrey
Had few after work beers on friday nites in there.rather handy being right next to irvines/rail yard
Fiona Love
Tom Jones - the first night you came to town, I asked you to dance, lifelong besties
Les Ellis
Had many late nights at the Central. Lots of good fun had there.
Kevin Bell
It wasn't as much fun when we reached the legal age Les.
Cecily Woolhouse
A few hangovers from late nights here, a blast from the past.
Trevor Hutt
Got horrible messed up in there a few times.
Sheldon Kirby
Burnt down 20th August 2001 along with my first pool cue .
Mark Thomas
Sheldon Kirby
Braithwaite had it aye , but it was only a single story building from what I remember
Kevin Schroder
It was fun running out out the back door and hiding by the rail trucks when the Cops arrived at the front door. Three rings and you bolted out the back maybe we were under age. A well run business with two brothers pouring the drinks.
Alan Mitchell
Kevin Schroder one long ring it was the police, three short ring was a customer wanting in after hours
Kevin Schroder
Alan Mitchell you could correct Alan
Sharon Singer
I met and married my husband from the central we met on the first night mum and dad took over the central happy times and sad times love love loved it
John Ryall
Also had a beer or two didn’t like Fords beer
Joel Murdoch
That is one hell of a transformation...
Lynnette Beirne
My late brother Arthur Wickes got busted one night when underage and in the bottle store ordering flagons for the boys my Dad who was in the bar recognised his voice and popped his head around and went what are you up too?
After they Dad got the flagons and the boys had the lounge at home to drink and party in
Greg Mait
Had some bloody good nights in that one. Surprise Surprise.
Jeanne Godfrey
Great memories of Gordon Ramsey banging out the tunes.
Dave Holley
Enid Holley is this where Gran worked back in the day?
Enid Holley
Dave Holley yes it is the hotel..
Ted Schroder
My home 1941 to 1964 when I left Hokitika to study at Durham University. My bedroom was on the second floor facing the rail yards. Good to hear from you all.
Kevin Schroder
Yes your Gran was a great cook and a lovely person as well.
Nita Miles
Many great memories of school holidays spent there,with our coaster family.xx
Dave Maitland
First bar job I had was at the central hotel, Friday and Saturday night started at 18, had to fake it for a time, great pub, publican, staff and punters.
Fun times every night
Karen Stuart
Married in that church and reception at the Central.. wow thanks for sharing
Dave Lyes
Was having a 7 at the bar and my school teacher came up to me and said "Mr Lyes, you are pushing it a bit with your school shirt on". I left forthwith. Lol.
Kath Rogers
My brother Jim Atkinson had his 21st there. Carol Schroder went to St Mary’s. She was a good swimmer
Ronrangi McMullan
Wonder if that's Dad's bike leaning on the wall outside the main bar??
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West Coast New Zealand History (10th Dec 2022). Schroders Central Hotel, Hokitika. 1954.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 2nd Jun 2026 22:01, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/22560