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Mark Sprots Building. Mackay Street. Opp. Grey Star.Built 1910-underground restaurant
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DescriptionMark Sprots Building. Mackay Street. Opp. Grey Star. Damaged by earthquake and demolished 1968.
Now a car park.
In 1911, this was home to an underground restaurant owned by Mr Salt:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GEST19111115.2.21?items_per_page=10&query=underground%20restaurant%20greymouth&snippet=true&title=GRA%2CGEST&fbclid=IwAR2bVhx9UdWhzQlyYAawOOgpboGPtDMhQy2WM5ekXp9C4or1fyWkp21Noi4Date of Photo1968Map[1] ContributorTony Kokshoorn
Now a car park.
In 1911, this was home to an underground restaurant owned by Mr Salt:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GEST19111115.2.21?items_per_page=10&query=underground%20restaurant%20greymouth&snippet=true&title=GRA%2CGEST&fbclid=IwAR2bVhx9UdWhzQlyYAawOOgpboGPtDMhQy2WM5ekXp9C4or1fyWkp21Noi4Date of Photo1968Map[1] ContributorTony Kokshoorn
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Location (city or town)GreymouthLandmark (Place)Mark Sprots BuildingOrganisation (eg business)Mark Sprots BuildingEventMark Sprots Building. Mackay Street. Opp. Grey Star.Built 1910.underground restaurantunderground cafe
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Date Created5th June 2020CommentsRobert Fay Lemon Griffin I (Fay) worked at Congreve & Co, Accountants (the small building to the left)which was also damaged in the earthquake.We moved into the Greenhill building and worked from there until our office was repaired.
Carolyn Luck My grandfather Fred Congreve and father Harry McMath - Congreve & Co- Accountants owned the building to the left of the Sprott building.
When they were pulling the Sprott building down they discovered it was a shared wall!!
There were many anxious days and I remember it very well.!
Trish Rennie Is that where the Ember Lounge was?
Heather Newby i think the Ember Lounge was more towards the Library.. wasnt it? i could be mistaken though
Brent Tomlinson Heather Newby yes further down near the power board
Robert Fay Lemon Griffin I (Fay) worked at Congreve & Co, Accountants (the small building to the left)which was also damaged in the earthquake.We moved into the Greenhill building and worked from there until our office was repaired.
Ray Vincent Is that where the NZRs were up until the quake after which they moved to Duncan Hardie for few years before closing the office..?
Carolyn Luck My grandfather Fred Congreve and father Harry McMath - Congreve & Co- Accountants owned the building to the left of the Sprott building.
When they were pulling the Sprott building down they discovered it was a shared wall!!
There were many anxious days and I remember it very well.!
Laura Mills Detlaff Is this now a car park?
Tony Kokshoorn Yes.Same site
Geoffrey King Me thinks the Inland revenue was the occupant of the building in question in this post,.the Mrk Sprott building and not the Congrieve building, so as not to be confused
Graham-Annette Goodall I (Graham) think that this building housed the Railway Engineers and District Office in the upstairs portion. If it is that building, I worked there in the late 1950’s as a draughting cadet.
Tania Gibson
I will show my Dad we have talked about this, when they were doing works there he said they found the glass tiles to the underground bar and had asked a few people about it but no one knew much.
Peter Armstrong
So the rumours were true . You'd think there would be problem's with the water table.
Lianne Mckay
Wow that would have been awesome
Geoffrey King
Is that where the Inland Revenue was located until they built the Taraphui / Mackay St offices
Bill Garth
Thought the IRD was upstairs adjacent to the Power Board opposite Harkers
Geoffrey King
Bill Garth Oh and then became F H Hayes furniture that building ok
Tania Gibson
I will show my Dad we have talked about this, when they were doing works there he said they found the glass tiles to the underground bar and had asked a few people about it but no one knew much.
·
Del Godfrey
Tania Gibson what happened to the glass tiles? Was anything else uncovered?
Peter Armstrong
So the rumours were true . You'd think there would be problem's with the water table.
Laura Mills Detlaff
Author
Admin
I can't find any stories after that first year so maybe they did?
Helen Dodge
that's fascinating,
Jenny
Murray Roberts
Some previous posts mentioned the Railways being in one of buildings in this vacinity. The NZ Railways was based in the brick building - known as "The Brick House" opposite the station. It is currently used as Speights Ale House. and some independent agenciesare also tenants. The Building was originally a government building and housed NZ Railways administration, drafting and engineers divisions.
Carolyn Luck
My Grandfather and Father’s Accountancy Business is the brown building to the left of this photo- Congreve and Co.
When the Sprott building was demolished it was found that there was not a separate wall between the two buildings only a shared wall between.
It was a very worrying time for my Grandfather and Father.
Del Godfrey
Wow, a piece of history I’ve never heard!
Murray Parfitt
Don't knock that lot over, Towns and cities must keep heritage.
Heather Newby
Admin
George Salts cafe and supper rooms was called.. The Continental Cafe and was opened on the 15th November ,1911.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newsp.../GEST19111115.2.21
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 15 November 1911 | THE CONTINENTAL CAFE.
PAPERSPAST.NATLIB.GOVT.NZ
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 15 November 1911 | THE CONTINENTAL CAFE.
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 15 November 1911 | THE CONTINENTAL CAFE.
· Reply · 14h · Edited
Heather Newby
Admin
Salts Fish Mart and Luncheon rooms.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GEST19120206.2.19?query=Mr+Salt&snippet=true&title=GRA%2cGEST
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 6 February 1912 | SALT'S FISH MART AND LUNCHEON ROOMS
PAPERSPAST.NATLIB.GOVT.NZ
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 6 February 1912 | SALT'S FISH MART AND LUNCHEON ROOMS
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 6 February 1912 | SALT'S FISH MART AND LUNCHEON ROOMS
· Reply · 14h
Heather Newby
Admin
Salts new cafe https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/news.../GRA19111021.2.28.4
Papers Past | Newspapers | Grey River Argus | 21 October 1911 | SALT'S NEW CAFE.
PAPERSPAST.NATLIB.GOVT.NZ
Papers Past | Newspapers | Grey River Argus | 21 October 1911 | SALT'S NEW CAFE.
Papers Past | Newspapers | Grey River Argus | 21 October 1911 | SALT'S NEW CAFE.
· Reply · 14h · Edited
Del Godfrey
Heather Newby thanks for this, wow! Amazing!
· Reply · 14h
Heather Newby
Admin
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newsp.../WCT19120715.2.4.2
Papers Past | Newspapers | West Coast Times | 15 July 1912 | Page 1 Advertisements Column 2
PAPERSPAST.NATLIB.GOVT.NZ
Papers Past | Newspapers | West Coast Times | 15 July 1912 | Page 1 Advertisements Column 2
Papers Past | Newspapers | West Coast Times | 15 July 1912 | Page 1 Advertisements Column 2
Doreen Wallis
Is the celler still there
Lyn Gosling
My father's shop was opposite this in Mackay st where the Grey Evening Star has extended out to after the shop was knocked down.
Carolyn Luck My grandfather Fred Congreve and father Harry McMath - Congreve & Co- Accountants owned the building to the left of the Sprott building.
When they were pulling the Sprott building down they discovered it was a shared wall!!
There were many anxious days and I remember it very well.!
Trish Rennie Is that where the Ember Lounge was?
Heather Newby i think the Ember Lounge was more towards the Library.. wasnt it? i could be mistaken though
Brent Tomlinson Heather Newby yes further down near the power board
Robert Fay Lemon Griffin I (Fay) worked at Congreve & Co, Accountants (the small building to the left)which was also damaged in the earthquake.We moved into the Greenhill building and worked from there until our office was repaired.
Ray Vincent Is that where the NZRs were up until the quake after which they moved to Duncan Hardie for few years before closing the office..?
Carolyn Luck My grandfather Fred Congreve and father Harry McMath - Congreve & Co- Accountants owned the building to the left of the Sprott building.
When they were pulling the Sprott building down they discovered it was a shared wall!!
There were many anxious days and I remember it very well.!
Laura Mills Detlaff Is this now a car park?
Tony Kokshoorn Yes.Same site
Geoffrey King Me thinks the Inland revenue was the occupant of the building in question in this post,.the Mrk Sprott building and not the Congrieve building, so as not to be confused
Graham-Annette Goodall I (Graham) think that this building housed the Railway Engineers and District Office in the upstairs portion. If it is that building, I worked there in the late 1950’s as a draughting cadet.
Tania Gibson
I will show my Dad we have talked about this, when they were doing works there he said they found the glass tiles to the underground bar and had asked a few people about it but no one knew much.
Peter Armstrong
So the rumours were true . You'd think there would be problem's with the water table.
Lianne Mckay
Wow that would have been awesome
Geoffrey King
Is that where the Inland Revenue was located until they built the Taraphui / Mackay St offices
Bill Garth
Thought the IRD was upstairs adjacent to the Power Board opposite Harkers
Geoffrey King
Bill Garth Oh and then became F H Hayes furniture that building ok
Tania Gibson
I will show my Dad we have talked about this, when they were doing works there he said they found the glass tiles to the underground bar and had asked a few people about it but no one knew much.
·
Del Godfrey
Tania Gibson what happened to the glass tiles? Was anything else uncovered?
Peter Armstrong
So the rumours were true . You'd think there would be problem's with the water table.
Laura Mills Detlaff
Author
Admin
I can't find any stories after that first year so maybe they did?
Helen Dodge
that's fascinating,
Jenny
Murray Roberts
Some previous posts mentioned the Railways being in one of buildings in this vacinity. The NZ Railways was based in the brick building - known as "The Brick House" opposite the station. It is currently used as Speights Ale House. and some independent agenciesare also tenants. The Building was originally a government building and housed NZ Railways administration, drafting and engineers divisions.
Carolyn Luck
My Grandfather and Father’s Accountancy Business is the brown building to the left of this photo- Congreve and Co.
When the Sprott building was demolished it was found that there was not a separate wall between the two buildings only a shared wall between.
It was a very worrying time for my Grandfather and Father.
Del Godfrey
Wow, a piece of history I’ve never heard!
Murray Parfitt
Don't knock that lot over, Towns and cities must keep heritage.
Heather Newby
Admin
George Salts cafe and supper rooms was called.. The Continental Cafe and was opened on the 15th November ,1911.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newsp.../GEST19111115.2.21
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 15 November 1911 | THE CONTINENTAL CAFE.
PAPERSPAST.NATLIB.GOVT.NZ
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 15 November 1911 | THE CONTINENTAL CAFE.
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 15 November 1911 | THE CONTINENTAL CAFE.
· Reply · 14h · Edited
Heather Newby
Admin
Salts Fish Mart and Luncheon rooms.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GEST19120206.2.19?query=Mr+Salt&snippet=true&title=GRA%2cGEST
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 6 February 1912 | SALT'S FISH MART AND LUNCHEON ROOMS
PAPERSPAST.NATLIB.GOVT.NZ
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 6 February 1912 | SALT'S FISH MART AND LUNCHEON ROOMS
Papers Past | Newspapers | Greymouth Evening Star | 6 February 1912 | SALT'S FISH MART AND LUNCHEON ROOMS
· Reply · 14h
Heather Newby
Admin
Salts new cafe https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/news.../GRA19111021.2.28.4
Papers Past | Newspapers | Grey River Argus | 21 October 1911 | SALT'S NEW CAFE.
PAPERSPAST.NATLIB.GOVT.NZ
Papers Past | Newspapers | Grey River Argus | 21 October 1911 | SALT'S NEW CAFE.
Papers Past | Newspapers | Grey River Argus | 21 October 1911 | SALT'S NEW CAFE.
· Reply · 14h · Edited
Del Godfrey
Heather Newby thanks for this, wow! Amazing!
· Reply · 14h
Heather Newby
Admin
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newsp.../WCT19120715.2.4.2
Papers Past | Newspapers | West Coast Times | 15 July 1912 | Page 1 Advertisements Column 2
PAPERSPAST.NATLIB.GOVT.NZ
Papers Past | Newspapers | West Coast Times | 15 July 1912 | Page 1 Advertisements Column 2
Papers Past | Newspapers | West Coast Times | 15 July 1912 | Page 1 Advertisements Column 2
Doreen Wallis
Is the celler still there
Lyn Gosling
My father's shop was opposite this in Mackay st where the Grey Evening Star has extended out to after the shop was knocked down.
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West Coast New Zealand History (10th Sep 2021). Mark Sprots Building. Mackay Street. Opp. Grey Star.Built 1910-underground restaurant. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 19th Apr 2026 02:48, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/27983