[KPC]

Do any of you USS CO leftovers remember the Banana Palace ? Did you ever stay there ?

[KPC]

PS its not just for USS Co..they did not discriminate..any Seaman was welcome....tell us of your experience and did you go for the bananas or the jam butties

[zsimone]

Hi KPC,
One watering hole you would remember being a towny as to speak. The old snake pit with the delightful bar person Bodicea and plenty coastie hosties.
Cheers
Gary

[KPC]

But.......what about the Banana Palace ? The Snake Pit was for any old body.......knew Boadecia well......but thats another story ! PS..the Banana Palace was in Wellington

[KPC]

OK.........It was one of those you had to be there places obviously. The Banana Palace was a boarding house on Tinakori Road in Wellington NZ. Also known as the Buckos Palace it was a popular rest home for tired and emotional Seafarers especially the younger set.......hence the name Buckos Palace. The name Banana Palace came about because of the Breakfast Fare which never ever changed. One had a choice of Pot of Tea with 2 slices of bread and a Banana OR a Pot of Tea with 2 slices of bread and jam. I think it cost 1 pound ten or 30 bob a week to camp there...it was clean and very well known. I am trying to get more detail from some of my contempories and will post if I find any more..ie..it had a name I think...something "House" maybe. Anyway...thats the deal re banana Palace.

[maurie]

There were anumber of places where one could sociallize in Auckland.. The Snake pit, the Queens Ferry hotel in Vulcan lane and a pub in fanshaw st, base of Hobson St.
I had to have "Balls" to visit there if i recall right
Great days alright....

[Mike Hogan]

Interesting memories here. I have stayed in the banana house (a.k.a. bucko's palace.) As I recall it was reasonably handy to the Union rooms on the Terrace,
Cheers all- Mike Hogan

[johnb42]

Originally Posted by KPC

Also known as the Buckos Palace it was a popular rest home for tired and emotional Seafarers especially the younger set.......hence the name Buckos Palace.

"Tired and emotional seafarers", lovely turn of phrase. It would be nice if there were a place like that for the older, ex seafarer set.

[bucko53]

Originally Posted by maurie

There were anumber of places where one could sociallize in Auckland.. The Snake pit, the Queens Ferry hotel in Vulcan lane and a pub in fanshaw st, base of Hobson St.
I had to have "Balls" to visit there if i recall right
Great days alright....

That would be Gleesons where the ladies would sing
Cock a doodle doo any old cockle doo.

[tsell]

Originally Posted by maurie

There were anumber of places where one could sociallize in Auckland.. The Snake pit, the Queens Ferry hotel in Vulcan lane and a pub in fanshaw st, base of Hobson St.
I had to have "Balls" to visit there if i recall right
Great days alright....

Maurie

You have awakened some vivid memories of Vulcan Lane. The Ferry was just up from the Occidental.
The Occidental was owned by Terry Keene and was one of my favourite haunts in the early sixties along with the Ferry. You could always get a drink after hours at the Occy and the Sunday morning 'church meeting' was for those 'in the know'.
Both were frequented by bookies and newspaper and TV journalists, though mainly the Ferry.
Jorgensen and his cohort in the Basset Road murders, as well as one of their victims Speight, a seaman, were also patrons. They were well known and you were wise to steer clear of their group.
Auckland was a wild place in those days.

Taff