Oxley’s Hotel, originally known as the “Bank Hotel”, was established in its current position on the corner of London Quay and Wellington Street in 1870. The hotel has withstood the test of time, enduring earthquakes, fires, and the will of inebriated patrons.
The Oxley’s name came to be when the hotel took new ownership in the late 1880s by Francis Allwood Oxley. He demolished the original portions of the hotel and added the iconic two-story masonry building with a curved façade in an Italianate Palazzo style, and the ornate cast-iron lacework veranda.
In the beginning, the Oxley’s Hotel was a rather salubrious affair with 29 rooms, 16 of which were bedrooms, and it had its own billiards room. It was the first building in Picton to have electricity, supplied by the hotel’s own power plant, which was centered around an 18-inch water-driven turbine known as a Pelton wheel.
The building was largely demolished in 2004, however, the ornate masonry street façade was retained and temporarily supported while a new structure, known as Oxley's Rock Development, was built behind it. The iconic façade was strengthened and incorporated into the structure of the new building.
The addition of the word “rock” to the frontage of the hotel stems from the whaling days. It was said that when the weather came up in the Cook Strait the whalers would seek refuge in Picton, with many spending their hard-earned cash in Oxley’s. However, when the weather turned fine again the men would struggle to leave, and they were likened to being stuck on a rock, hence “Oxley’s Rock.”
The Oxley's Hotel continued for many years and served as an important gathering place for many. This included whalers and fishermen, serving as a beacon of hope, and home at the end of a long trip at sea.
In an area highly visible from Picton's foreshore and harbour the Oxley's hotel façade, as it stands today, has much aesthetic, architectural and social value. It remains one of the most important reminence of building heritage in Picton and is a prominent visual symbol of Picton.
In addition to its iconic frontage, and in keeping with its heritage and Picton's strong connection with seaman and whalers, you can find a host of historical memorabilia within the walls.
Oxley's has always served as an important meeting place for working people, locals and many travelers who pass through on their journeys between the North and South Islands. We hope you can come and enjoy the same hospitality and warmth that Oxley's has offered for over 130 years.