National Hotel

The National Hotel is one of Cambridge’s best-known landmarks. There has been a hotel on this site since 1867. 

The first building opened as the Alpha Hotel, established by Robert Kirkwood, a Private in the 3rd Waikato Militia and a member of the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers. The land was part of his militia grant. Kirkwood later renamed the hotel the Duke of Edinburgh. In 1874, when William Laird became his business partner, the name changed again to the National Hotel, and it has remained so ever since. 

National Hotel, Cambridge, early 1900s CM2958/24

The original hotel was a timber building typical of the mid-19th century. It stood proudly on a corner site, with a veranda and an upstairs balcony. Inside were dining rooms, public and private bars, sitting rooms, and guest accommodation. Like many larger hotels of the time, it also included billiard rooms, reading rooms, smoking rooms, and sample rooms for travelling salesmen. 

These sample rooms were an important part of country trade. Commercial travellers moved from town to town showing textiles, fashions, tools, and luxury goods.  

In 1912, disaster struck when fire destroyed the wooden hotel. The present brick building was erected the same year, designed by architect J. Currie and built by Fred Potts. It reflected a new era of more solid, substantial hotels and included new sample rooms at the rear. 

In 1927, plain brick “Sample Rooms” were added beside the hotel. Over the years it has served as sample rooms, rugby changing rooms, and a scout hall. 

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