Landmark hotel may be gone by Christmas

A demolition team is halfway through the demolition of Hastings' Albert Hotel. Photo / Duncan Brown

The demolition of Hastings' oldest building has surpassed the halfway mark and is on track to be completed before Christmas.

Albert Hotel owner Michael Whittaker said a team from Hastings Demolition was "midway" through the process of demolishing the building after it began work last month.

"We're still hoping to have the bulk of the building down by Christmas. It's going as planned and it's exciting to have it coming down."

The demolition team was working methodically through the building, pulling out any parts that could be recovered or recycled.

It had so far not found any hidden treasures in the historic hotel.

Mr Whittaker didn't know when the hotel's facade would come down.

But a ceremony was tentatively planned for the final stages of the demolition of the two-storey wooden building, which withstood the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake and was given category two protection by Heritage New Zealand because of its cultural and aesthetic value.

Following the demolition, a two-level container development will spring up on the site with up to 16 spaces for lease, modelled on Christchurch's successful Re:START container mall.

A growers' market run by the Hastings City Business Association also takes up two blocks of Heretaunga St East, including the hotel site, every Saturday morning.

The Albert Hotel is Hastings' oldest inner-city building and was built in 1882 by William Dennett, an Australian immigrant who became mayor of Hastings.