Southland Mounted Rifles in front of Empire Hotel on Tay Street., [no date]

Item — Box: 1

Identifier: S00780055

Staff Only

Dates

[no date]

Biographical / Historical

The name James Aitken appears above the entrance to the Empire Hotel in the image. Aitken was the publican from around October 1897 to August 1899. At the time, he was serving as the South Ward councillor for the Invercargill Borough Council. Aitken leased the premises from its owner, Thomas Whitaker, who was retiring after running the hotel for 23 years. The hotel had 26 rooms, as well as a kitchen, scullery, bath and storerooms. It boasted reticulated water and gas. The property also featured detached coal storage and a separate washhouse. There was stabling out back, comprising 20 stalls and five loose boxes. The building was gutted by fire in February 1914.