Mr Drewett Wins A Wager, Hotel St George Wellington 1950

Mr Drewett (right) and an unidentified man celebrate his win payable in a bullock's worth of beef.
Evening Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library.

In the curiosity file is Mr Drewett's wager of 1950. The manager of the Hotel St George won a wager in July 1950 and the Evening Post newspaper sent along a reporter and photographer on 19 July to capture the "news" in the form of the wager's payout - a bullock's worth of meat.

"Careful with that axe, Eugene", with apologies to Pink Floyd. OK, I know it's a meat cleaver.
Evening Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library.

Unfortunately, the notes accompanying these photos do not reveal the nature of the wager Mr Drewett won but he is clearly delighted with the outcome.

This photo is captioned as Mr Drewett carrying his winnings through the main entrance of the St George.
Evening Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library.

Notable Celebrity Guests at the Hotel St George, Perretts Corner, Wellington

In addition to the Beatles, a range of notable guests stayed at the Hotel St George, Willis Street, at the Perrett's Corner intersection over the years - musicians and sportsmen among their number:

Violinists Yehudi and Hepzibah Menuhin stayed at the St George in July 1951. Here they autograph photos for fans. Evening Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library.

Evening Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library.

Members of the English cricket team "relax" (in suits!) in one of their rooms at the Hotel St George. In the 4 day test match against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve, Wellington between 24 - 28 March, 1951, England won by six wickets. Spectators must have got a lot of sleep in during the match with an average run rate of 2 runs per over being posted by both sides.

Evening Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library.

During their 1951 tour of New Zealand to play the New Zealand Maori team, the Fiji team stayed at the St George. Here, three team members display their mementos obtained on the tour.

Hotel St George - Perrett's Corner Wellington 1930s

The Hotel St George, circa 1930s.
Alexander Turnbull Library

The Art Deco style Hotel St George was constructed on the site of the Albert Hotel, the former Old Identities Hotel on the corner of Boulcott and Willis Streets opposite Perrett's corner in Wellington. It opened for business in 1931.

For over 60 years the hotel served as a high class hotel hosting some of Wellington's most notable visitors including the Beatles in 1964.

Now subject to Heritage protection, architect William Prouse's design is described by the Wellington City Council's Heritage site as "a three-storey "base" with a curved corner, and two shafts above, rising to eight storeys, which are divided by a deep bay with perforated balconies. There is a conscious (but not over-defined) vertical emphasis to the building consistent with the Art Deco influence.... It must have seemed the very epitome of the modern hotel when it opened in 1930. The construction, too, was advanced, consisting of reinforced concrete, cast in situ, and floors of Winflor reinforced concrete block."

The hotel under construction in 1930. The building immediately to its right is the Wellington YWCA:

Hotel St George under construction in 1930
Photo: William Hall Raine. Alexander Turnbull Library

The Hotel St George begins to overshadow Perrett's corner in 1930 as well as the Wellington YWCA in the right edge of the picture.

Hotel St George begins to take up some of Perrett's afternoon sun, a precious commodity in Wellington. Alexander Turnbull Library

Today the St George is used as a student hostel by the Victoria University of Wellington.