The recreation of Glenorchy’s historic Mount Earnslaw Hotel is on hold for now, but the project’s far from forgotten.

A phoenix rising from the ashes, the Grand Mount Earnslaw Hotel is developer Douglas Rikard-Bell’s plan to rebuild and reimagine the original place (pictured) which burned down in 1959 after nearly 80 years of life.

Rikard-Bell says while his company, Blackthorn Ltd, is ‘‘very much looking forward to leaning into delivering’’ the project, there’s no construction start date yet.

Instead, he’s focusing on its other interests.

But the company’s subsequently purchased a neighbouring property, 21 Islay Street, which Rickard-Bell says will be included in the overall
project.

The Grand Mount Earnslaw Hotel was finally given the green light a year ago — after Queenstown council’s decision to grant consent was appealed to the Environment Court by Otago Regional Council, which eventually withdrew.

Rickard-Bell can build a 52-bed hotel, with 46 carparks, and says while the adjoining property is a separate title, ‘‘we should be able to resolve a scheme for it without it affecting the commencement date for construction [of the hotel]’’.

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