Last Hotel Post-Mortem at the Gladstone Hotel

This spot at 328 Durham Street used to be the Gladstone Hotel, which was replaced by commercial buildings after it was demolished in 2005. It had a long history, starting in 1856 as the original meeting place for the Christchurch Club, owned by George Woodman, and it acquired the first liquor license in Christchurch a couple of months later.

By 1862, the Christchurch Club had moved, and this building became the Devonshire Arms. In 1875, hotels in Christchurch were actually forced to take in dead bodies before burial. Then, in 1876, the original building was replaced by a new, larger two-story hotel under John Barrett’s ownership, and it was christened the Gladstone Hotel.

The Gladstone holds the distinction of being the last hotel in Christchurch to host a post-mortem. That examination happened in July 1901, performed by Dr. William Diamond. He told the coroner it was extremely difficult to work in such cramped and unsuitable hotel quarters. Luckily, on that very day, the architect Mr. S. Hurst-Seager handed the keys to the newly completed city morgue to the City Council, so Dr. Diamond's wish for a better facility was granted.

In 1970, DB Breweries bought the Gladstone. From 1971 to 1990, it was really active as a live music venue, especially after Gary Lings took over as proprietor in 1971. It became a popular spot for underground music during the punk and post-punk era, with bands like the Pin Group, the Gordons, Playthings, and the Clean playing to packed crowds.

In 1985, a proposed development here didn't happen because funding fell through. The accommodation part of the hotel closed, and it became the Gladstone Tavern. By 1990, it was renamed the Durham Arms. Public opinion wasn't always positive about the change, with one critic describing its new look as "tacky designer interiors" and the music as "suburban and western." That same critic also said the pub was always an "atrociously ugly building anyway." It was also known by other names over the years, including DB Gladstone and The Glad.