Demolition work starts on site of planned $40 million Invercargill Licensing Trust hotel

Sunday, 3 March 2019

Demolition work is underway to remove five buildings to make way for the Invercargill Licensing Trust's $40 million hotel.

The hotel will be constructed on the corner of Dee and Don streets.

Getting demolished are the Langford and State Insurance Buildings, along with the premises that housed the Kiln and Barluca bars, Invercargill Art Gallery and Nudax.

Project manager Russell Clouston surveys demolition work on the site for the planned $40 million hotel in Invercargill.

Ryal Bush Demolition, led by its project manager Russell Clouston, started work on Friday, using a digger before larger machinery was brought in.

Clouston checked out the buildings in December and January, and during February they were gutted.

Artwork of the Invercargill Licensing Trust's inner-city hotel.

Removed from the Langford Building was wooden panelling, verandah posts, brickwork and a decorative pressed tin ceiling that will be used in the new hotel.

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The name of the new hotel will be announced on Monday.

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The hotel is expected to be opened in 2021.

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'There's a lot to do … it'll take 12 weeks to clear it,' Clouston said.

The Langford Building will be the last to be demolished, with work to bring it down likely to begin on March 23.

On a personal note, Clouston said he was delighted a Southland-based company got the demolition contraction and for its workers to be involved in the development of a major Invercargill project.

Invercargill Licensing Trust chief executive Chris Ramsay said the arrival of the demolition team was a positive step forward.

'A lot of work has gone in to get to this point … it's very exciting,' he said.

Construction of the hotel should start in August or September and be completed in October 2021.

The eight-storey and 80 room hotel is costing $40 million, while all other work in preparation for its construction, including the demolition, will cost just under $3 million.

The name of the hotel will be announced on Monday morning. The ILT board decided on a name after inviting the public to submit suggestions.

One of the more humorous names put forward was Crocodile Dondee.

About 500 entries were received and elements from about 50 helped the board to come up with the name.

The people who submitted the 50 will go into a draw on Monday to win a weekend's accommodation, food and beverages at the Ascot Park Hotel and accommodation, food and beverages at the new hotel on its opening night in 2021.