Akaroa Historical Overview - Christchurch City Council

He soon built his own store and coaching stables alongside Bruce’s Hotel. He replaced his
original simple, plain weatherboard and shingle-roofed building with a more substantial
two-storey building some time before 1883. This building still stands, although
significantly modified. 33
Figure 5.12. At the base of the original town wharf in the later 19 th century, Latter’s
Store stood on the site now occupied by the Fishermen’s Rest. Older buildings
occupy the sites of today’s L’Hotel and Akaroa Supply Store. Ref: Eliz John's original-1
T.E. Taylor, who became one of Akaroa’s most prominent businessmen, went into
business in the town in 1889. He had large premises on Beach Road at the corner of
Church Street (refer figure 5.13). Closest to the corner was a single-storey block and next
to it, north along Beach Road, a two storey, Italianate building. By the early 20 th century,
the original building of three bays had been replaced by one with two windows on each
side of a fifth larger, central window. (It is not known if the original building was
extended or demolished and an entirely new building in the same style built on the site.)
The single-storey section of Taylor’s establishment has not survived, but the larger twostorey
block remains. It has through the years housed a large number of very various
businesses. 34
Figure 5.13. One of the major businesses at the south end of Akaroa in the later
19 th century was T.E. Taylor’s warehouse and store. Taylor’s premises stood on the
site occupied by the early 20 th century Akaroa Supply Store building and the
modern L’Hotel development. Ref: 4586, CM.
33 Ogilvie, Cradle, p. 39; Allison, An Akaroa Precinct, pp. 46-47; Mould, More Tales, p. 55
34 Fearnley, Unpublished manuscript, ch. 10
AKAROA HERITAGE OVERVIEW : SECTION 5 THE COLONIAL TOWN 1850 TO 1900 PAGE 43