Buildings make way for hotel
Demolition work is under way 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.
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 last month they were gutted.
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.
‘‘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.
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 $3m.
The name of the hotel was to be announced this 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.