Former Wellington Hotel development application for 16-room boarding house

A heritage listed central west hotel could be converted into a boarding house for employees. See the plans.

The Wellington Hotel.

Plans for boarding house accommodation in one of Wellington’s heritage listed sites have been revealed, comprising of 16 private rooms and indoor and outdoor communal spaces.

Plans are on exhibition for a new co-housing development in the former Wellington Hotel, exclusively for the use of Aviagen employees who are working on rural properties in the surrounding area.

The proposed site of the co-living accommodation in Wellington.

The hotel was constructed on Swift Street in 1880 in a federation Queen Anne style to welcome the arrival of the first train in Wellington.

Under the development application, on exhibition until April 4, the developer would repurpose the former hotel’s bar, kitchen, lounge area and laundry rooms into communal spaces for the employees.

The Wellington Hotel.

Wellington Hotel signage.

“Part of the ground floor area is to be used for the on-site manager’s residence, management office and private open space area for the manager’s household,” the developer said.

“The majority of first floor rooms will be used to provide private accommodation as single and double rooms.”

Planners for the project said the existing rear area will provide seven parking spots and the garage will provide a further three.

The premises will operate as private accommodation for the employees and will be limited to 20 residents, including the household manager.

“The proposed development is not expected to have any significant impact on the building’s external fabric apart from the upgrading and repairs to the fire stairs located on the building’s northern elevation,” the developer said.