John Hood (1835-1907) and John Shennan (circa 1843-1887) opened Oamaru's first drapery store in 1863, at the foot of Wansbeck Street. Their business quickly became successful, and in 1871, they acquired a prime location at the corner of Itchen and Tees Streets, where they constructed new premises. The building was described as a "beautiful showy structure" made of stone, Italian in style, simple in character, but perfectly suited to the business it was intended for.
Main Entrance
The main entrance is located on Itchen Street, flanked by large display windows. The drapery department occupies the Tees Street frontage. Upstairs, a spacious showroom welcomes customers, while the ground floor includes a furniture and clothing department, a tailor's workshop, and offices. The building was erected by contractor Thomas King, under the supervision of architect Thomas Forrester.
Facade Redesigned in 1885
In 1885, the facade was completely redesigned by Forrester and Lemon to accommodate the offices of the Australian Mutual Provident Society. The new design notably incorporated what architectural historian Conal McCarthy describes as "the magnificent group of marble statues" titled Amicus on the corner parapet. Verandas were also added along the frontages on Itchen Street and Tees Street.
The AMP remained the owner of the building until 1958, when it was acquired by Stringer and Co. Ltd., stock and station agents. The North Otago Club moved in in 1975. In 2010, the building underwent significant restoration, restoring its former glory.