The Palliser Hotel (formerly the Empire Hotel) was built in 1955. Located just behind the shops on Moores Valley Road, the Empire served as a lively meeting place for locals from the mid-20th century onward.
In 1981, the Wainuiomata Licensing Trust purchased the Empire Hotel and carried out a refurbishment, reopening it under a new name, the Palliser Hotel. The rebranding reflected a new chapter in Wainuiomata’s growth, yet the past was never forgotten. The public bar continued to be known as “The Empire”, preserving a sense of continuity for loyal patrons who had long been part of its story.
