A central city hotel proposal has ‘blown away’ the requirements set by Hamilton City Council for development of a prominent riverside site.

Council has now entered into an unconditional agreement with Templeton Group, to sell the land at 242-254 Victoria Street for what will be the biggest one-off investment in Hamilton’s central city.

To meet Hamilton’s urgent need for high-end accommodation and maximise benefits to the city, certain requirements were placed over what the land could be developed for.

Top of this list was a minimum height of 10 floor levels. Templeton’s latest (but not final) proposal envisages a tiered 25-storey development featuring hotel accommodation, apartments, and a carefully curated riverfront dining and entertainment precinct, similar to the well-known Viaduct Harbour waterfront created and developed by Templeton Group founder Nigel Mckenna.

“I am blown away by the proposal submitted, it’s exceeded all expectations,” said Mayor Paula Southgate.

The proposal includes ten floors with 218 rooms of hotel accommodation. A feasibility study has shown Hamilton needs 497 additional hotel rooms by 2030.

“This is a significant step forward for Hamilton and one I've been determined to see in my time as Mayor. Hamilton is a visitor destination and we have known for some time that more hotel rooms are needed to meet demand.

“When completed, Templeton’s investment will support Hamilton’s economic growth, the vibrancy of our central city, and our attractiveness as a destination for business and leisure.”

Templeton will now continue finalising preliminary designs, with plans to lodge resource consent applications by the end of 2025.

“We anticipate the new tower will in time become the epicentre of Hamilton’s central city with a tangible visual connection to the river against a backdrop of premium dining, hotel and accommodation experiences. Our proposal makes full use of the site and will contribute to Hamilton’s transformation to a big city,” said Templeton’s Nigel McKenna.

“The development will open up and activate the riverfront area in a similar way to what I did in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour in the early 2000s, providing stunning views and creating a signature destination.

“We’re looking to Hamilton’s heritage and the Waikato River for design inspiration, to ensure this hotel is an iconic landmark that reflects the city.”

Chair of the Economic Development Committee Ewan Wilson said the hotel couldn’t come soon enough.

“This is not just a win for Hamilton, but our wider region too. Hamilton and Waikato are some of the fastest growing areas in the country. With more high-quality accommodation comes significant opportunity for our region. We are about to be one hell of a host city.”

About the agreement

Council will sell the properties to Templeton Group for $6 million, plus a share in the development profits. Council is expected to see a significant return on investment from the sale of the land, as well as extending Hamilton’s iconic Victoria on the River public space.

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