Peak Hotel - Peak Hospital - Formosa

Phase 2 of the Peak Hotel Annex appears to be complete, meaning the pic is from 1912 or later (1). Having said that, the paint on the Annexe building doesn’t look any brighter than its older neighbours, suggesting it was already a bit weather-beaten when the photo was taken.

A small part of Treverbyn is seen between the end of the main block of Peak Hotel and the edge of the photo. It was probably demolished at sometime between January and October 1924 (2), so the photo was snapped before then.

Also at the right edge of the photo, on the hillside in the distance at the same level as the roof of Peak Hotel, is an irregular, horizontal, white line. I think it’s a portion of Chamberlain Road, before its widening and renaming as Stubbs Road.  Chamberlain Road was built in 1897/8 (3) and was widened from 1921 to 1925. From the PWD Reports it’s not possible to know exactly when the visible part of the road was widened, but probably either 1922 or 1923 (4), so the subject photo was taken before then. 

Based on the above facts, the subject photo was taken at sometime between 1912 and 1923. However, it’s probably not from very early within this timeframe due to the weather-beaten appearance of the Annexe paintwork.  

(1). Para. 45 of the 1912 PWD Report, states that ,“Further additions were made to the Peak Hotel Annexe”, i.e. Phase 2 of the Annexe was built.

(2). Para.120(c) of the 1923 PWD Report refers to Treverbyn being present at the end of 1923. Peak Mansions replaced it shortly afterwards. Para.42 of the 1924 PWD Report states that work on Peak Mansions commenced in 1924 but was suspended in October. I assume Treverbyn was demolished between January and October 1924 as demolition of the existing building would have been amongst the first things to do on the Peak Mansions construction project. 

(3). Para.58 of 1898 Report of Director of PW.

(4). Para.106( c ) of the 1922 PWD Report talks of a “considerable advance” made on the portion from Peak Church to Victoria Gap. Para. 120( c ) of the 1923 PWD Report notes that by year end only “a small length of retaining wall only and some filling in near Treverbyn remained to be done”.