In July 1882 Nathaniel Valentine, an early settler in the Hutt Valley, opened the Marine Retreat Hotel at the southern entrance to Petone. The Hotel was more commonly known as ‘Valentines’.
The hotel was located between the woollen mill and the railway workshops and drew many of its patrons from these plants.
Valentine died in 1892 and the hotel was renamed the Grand National.
For many years the hotel was owned by the Te Puni family. They sold it in 1967.
The hotel ceased trading in 1993. A public campaign to save the hotel from demolition was successful and the building was moved to its present site on Jackson street in 1995. Where it is now home to various businesses.
Thank you so much for this historical information, its fantastic. My mother was very excited when I found this as Nathanial Valentine is her Great Great Grandfather, and my Great Great Great Grandfather. I am currently working on our family tree so this is priceless info. Many thanks