Salmond Reed have been instrumental in the restoration and seismic upgrade of the building which was completed in 2022, not only coordinating the seismic upgrade and major repairs to the building, but designing and implementing the complete restoration of the interior of the the building. The building now meets the standard of >67% of the New Building Standard and has been re-presented with robust finishes and detailing that reflects the historic importance of this architectural gem of a building.
In 2010, the client approached Salmond Reed Architects to design a sympathetic double-storey verandah on the seaside front of this well-known Northland establishment. In 2017 construction took place. Great things sometimes do take time.
The Duke of Marlborough began its life in 1827 as “Johnny Johnston’s Grog Shop”. The owner Johnny Johnston was an ex-convict come good, he became fluent in Te Reo and was very well regarded with the local Maori.
Fast forward to today and the Duke is a thriving hospitality enterprise having recently completed Stage 1 of a two-stage building redevelopment.
Stage 1 saw the removal of a tired, prosaic single-storey covered deck and the construction of a much grander and elegantly proportioned double-storey verandah. A feature of this is the gable-ended form clearly marking the central entrance into the hotel.
Stage 2 included the addition of some 13 guest rooms and associated services to the rear of the site.




