The Standard Hotel: Beer, Burlesque, and Farce

This building, here on the corner of Hereford Street and Oxford Terrace, was once home to the *Canterbury Standard* newspaper. James Willis, a printer, came to Christchurch in the early 1850s, and by 1855, he was the official printer for the Canterbury Provincial Council. He connected with Joseph Brittan, an early citizen of Christchurch and founder of the *Canterbury Standard*, which was the third newspaper in the city. James worked with Brittan, eventually becoming the printer, part owner, and proprietor of the paper in the late 1850s and early 1860s.

The *Canterbury Standard* was printed and produced right here. Early images show a two-story front facing Oxford Terrace, with printing sheds extending along Hereford Street. James continued to operate his printing press here until his death in 1866, eventually under the name Telegraph Printing Press.

But for the last few years of his life, he shared these premises with his brother, William Willis. William took over the old *Standard* offices at the front of the building and turned them into the Standard Hotel. It opened in July 1864.

Now, when I say "hotel," it seems it wasn't really about offering accommodation. It was more about drinking beer and providing entertainment. There's only one mention in the newspapers from that time about someone staying here, and that was an unemployed man, which suggests the accommodation was pretty cheap.