Timelapse shows demolition of the Kings Arms Tavern after 130 years in operation

Auckland's Kings Arms Tavern has been demolished after 130 years in operation to make way for 102 new apartments.

The demolition was completed on Monday, and a video timelapse of the demolition was posted by new owner Urban Collective last night.

Developer Kelly McEwan said he realised the footage could be a bit nostalgic for some.

"I think it's a shame it's gone, but it does provide opportunities to take its place," Mr McEwan said.

Some of the comments on the post were negative, including one person who wrote: "When all of Auckland's live venues have been knocked down for apartments ... what is there going to be left to do for a night out?"

Mr McEwan said he understood that fans and denizens of the pub would be upset, but the wishes of late owner Maureen Gordon should be respected.

The Kings Arms Tavern has launched the careers of countless Kiwi bands, but it's being destroyed to make way for apartments.

"Maureen put the pub up for sale and there were no takers," Urban Collective posted on the video.

"People had the opportunity on the open market to 'step up' but the numbers just didn't work anymore.

"She wished to take care of her interests before she passed and this needs to be respected.

"She was a legend and the Kings Arms was a fantastic venue that had its time and place ... all of our team certainly had many a good night there!"

Mr McEwan said Ms Gorden herself, who passed away late last year, aged 86, had actually put a deposit on one of the new apartments herself before she passed.

“The Kings Arms is dead,” Voom singer Buzz Moller said to the crowd after the final song.

The venue and grounds were sold to Urban Collective for $7.4m in 2016 and the pub closed its doors this year on February 28.

The building had no heritage designation despite being more than a century old, and Mr McEwan said he suspected many parts of the building were in fact un-compliant.

The new apartment complex on the site will be extensive, incorporating 102 industrial-themed apartments along with ground-level commercial sites.

Apartments in the building will sell for between $645,000 and $2.39 million and they are due to be completed in mid-2020.

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