BRINGING THE POST OFFICE BACK TO LIFE
A Slice of NZ History
This building was erected in March 1909 by “Mr Wright of Taumarunui” with the sole purpose of use being the Ohakune Post Office, servicing the Ruapehu District
The initial 1909 design is depicted in the black and white photo on the wall, with the gentlemen on the front steps with his horses and cart.
A substantial fire on the 7th of November 1917 destroyed a major part of the town, which was coincidently located in Burns Street. This building was one of the lucky few to escape without a single scorch mark! After this fire, the town was relocated and rebuilt to what is now the main through street, Clyde Street.
Extensive alterations and additions were carried out in 1942 at a cost of £1,745 to extend the back of the building, as glimpsed in the other black and white photo, with just the horse and cart in front of the building.
In 1970 an addition of front porch and large front shop display window, and accessibility ramp were added as the Post Office was a busy hub for Ohakune.
This continued through until 1995, when it was then downgraded from a Post Office to simply a Post Shop. The remainder of the space was then used as an art gallery and gift shop.
In 1996 the rear of the building, now Apartment #3 Mawhero, was converted into a caretaker’s apartment. Under the ownership of Graeme Petersen and Jan Carver the Post Office continued to operate, at a reduced capacity. Telecom, moved into the gift shop area.
2006 brought a new owner to the Post Office, Garry Knapp from Auckland, followed by Wendy de Hann from Taupo in ……..
2018 the property was purchased by US! Nathan Taranaki and Arnika Smith. Keen snowboarders with a love for a passion project. Ohakune was the perfect place for us, and the historic Ohakune Post Office, the ideal building. With great bones, excellent location, and heaps of potential the design concept started in January 2019, with onsite works kicking off in June 2019.
2022 and we are now a fully operational luxury accommodation provider here in Ohakune, NZ.
We hope that you enjoyed reading the story of this historic building and hope your stay here is suitably energetic & relaxing! It is our pleasure to host you.
Arnika Smith and Nathan Taranaki
