Nov 8, 2008

Now & Then


This is the North-west corner of Colombo and Lichfield Streets in 1870.


Edward Reece (1834-1887) founded his Hardware business on this site in 1856, erecting new premises in brick and stone to the design of Samuel Charles Farr in 1870, with an extension in 1878.


The interior of Reece's Ironmongery in 1903




The building survived until 2006, when it was demolished by the proprieters of Ballantyne's variety store to make way for the current edifice.

Update

Built before 1897 for James Howey (1856-1933), to the design of Collins and Harman, was the former City Buffet Private Hotel on the northwest corner of Colombo and Lichfield Streets. Modified beyond recognition, the facade of Edward Reece's Ironmongery can be seen to the Right in the 2001 photograph (above).

1897

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Any chance of an 'in-between' photo? I'm struggling to align the first picture with my memory of the Mid City Market and the fantastic old building on the corner - I was lucky enough to snoop around in its upper stories just before demolition.

Marcus Castell said...

Updated to include 2 photos of the former Howley's Private Hotel on the northwest corner of Colombo and Lichfield Streets.