Bayleys markets historic Maungaturoto Hotel that survived nail-biting journey from Onehunga to Northland
The landmark Maungaturoto Hotel, a feature pub on the Twin Coast Discovery State Highway 12, has been put up for sale.
The historic hotel, 60km south of Whangarei, was reportedly built in a prefabricated form about 1902 in the Onehunga yard of Johnny Rowe, the Mayor of Onehunga who owned a building company. It was then transported by sea and overland to its current site.
“If the Maungaturoto’s walls could talk she would have some great yarns to spin,” said Brian Caldwell, Bayleys sales and leasing agent who, with colleague Michael Nees, is marketing the tenanted freehold property for sale by way of private treaty closing at 4pm on Thursday, August 13.
Caldwell said the hotel had its founding when a brewery owner purchased a liquor licence for transfer to the current site of the Maungaturoto Hotel. Under the law at the beginning of the 20th century, the licence owner had a limited period to construct the new premises.
The classic Kiwi pub was almost lost at sea on two occasions as it made a treacherous journey north via the Manukau and Kaipara Harbours by tug, barge and cattle punt.
Poor weather, a leaky vessel and drunken crew members hampered the transport process and builders then had a race against time to piece together the prefabricated hotel onsite before the liquor licence transfer period lapsed.
Fortunately they managed to erect a single frame, hang a door and nail the licence to it on the day the transfer period was due to expire.
“The Maungaturoto Hotel has since enjoyed almost cult status among local residents and travellers passing through on their way to Langs Beach, Waipu and popular holiday spots further north,” Caldwell said.
He said the Maungaturoto Hotel had a loyal customer base as it was one of the only liquor outlets in the area, alongside a supermarket and a handful of sports clubs.
“It presents an opportunity to purchase a piece of New Zealand’s heartland history and the focal point of a rural and expanding lifestyle community. This hotel is a much loved part of the community and one ripe for redevelopment.
“We have seen some shining ex- amples of taverns like this. Look at the Matakana Pub, it has undergone something of a renaissance thanks to a facelift, a menu rethink and owners that are willing to inject some innovation into their business,” Caldwell said.
According to the Kaipara district plan, the Maungaturoto Hotel is listed as being of heritage value.
Caldwell said that in general terms this meant the exterior of the building must be retained, but modernisation of the interior was likely to be permitted.
The current tenants have occupied the premises since April 2012 on a 10-year term paying annual rent of $57,200.
The two-storey building and carparking is held in four contiguous titles totalling an area of 1.323ha with a parcel of undeveloped grazing land to the rear of the hotel.
The ground floor area of the hotel building is 360sq m, including a dining room with an open fireplace and capacity to seat 35 people. French doors lead from the sports bar out to a partially covered verandah that overlooks a bandstand green and barbecue area.
The upper accommodation level measures 234sq m made up of the manager’s accommodation, three double bedrooms, a bathroom and French doors that open to a verandah.
A lift from the cellar beneath the storage room allows supplies to be transported easily to the kitchen, bar and chiller.
Guests are offered a choice of eight fully furnished rooms in double and twin configurations for $60 per night, or single configurations for $40 per night.
Caldwell said the property was piquing the interests of developers, long-term investors and tavern operators that could envision its potential.