The Hydro Grand Hotel in Timaru trembles as the man in the crane with his big ball and chain comes closer to inflicting the pain that will finally knock the old girl over.
The current owners of the Hydro Grand bought the historic hotel several years ago with the intentions of knocking it over and replacing it with time share hotel apartments.
To purchase the Hydro Grand a company called Grand Piazza Ltd was formed in Feb 2003 and the directors currently include Edward Sullivan and John McGlashan who are both senior partners in the Timaru law firm of Raymond Sullivan McGlashan. The share holders of that company are non transparent because their names are buried in the law firms nominee company Strathallan nominees Limited. However it is known that property developer Noel Fitzgerald, and businessman Sid MacAuley both had an interest in the purchase of Hydro Grand Hotel in 2003.
It is also believed that Timaru Real Estate agent Gerald Morton secured ownership of the Hydro Grand for the group. Mr Morton is an in law of the late George Clough who’s family owned the former Seaveiw Hotel site alongside the Hydro Grand Hotel. This block of land and the old Hervey motors car park has since been sold the Hydro Grand Hotel owners. Last week it was reported in the Timaru Herald that the owners of the law firm of Raymond Sullivan McGlashan have also purchased the former Hervey Motors land and buildings currently occupied by an Ashburton Motor Dealer Drummond and Etheridge. Sybil Holdings Limited is the company involved in this purchase and the companies office records show that most of the directors are all partners in the law firm of Raymond Sullivan Mc Glashan.
Drummond and Etheridge are being forced to downsize their Timaru branch by moving to a site currently occupied by Graig Gilbert Motors on Evans Street.
The site is on state highway one and thanks to the current Timaru District Council it is destined to become a 4 lane highway.
The directors of Grand Piazza Ltd and Sybil Holdings Ltd are keeping tight lipped about their plans for the prize land and buildings they have purchased overlooking Caroline Bay. They have announced that their plans will be revealed at a private function in August this year.
Development on the Bay Hill is well overdue and many are hoping that something positive will be done to revitalise the area. The Hydro Grand holds 97 years memories and there are many people who will be interested in what happens to it. It is for that reason I believe the company has a moral duty to reveal it plans to a public audience not just a private one.
When the ball and chain finally hits the lookout dome and it crashes on to the street below I wonder how many people will stand clapping and say
“good on them they knocked the barstard off”
