This Italianate style building was designed by James Wrigley and built in 1867. It was purchased by the newly established Northern Club in 1869. The distinctive Virginia creeper which covers the building was planted in 1927.

• Heritage NZ Inventory - Link: https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/663/Listing
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The Northern Club building is hard to miss with three of the four sides covered top to bottom in Virginia Creeper ivy, planted in 1927.

Built in 1867 this distinctive building sits at the intersection of Princes St, Kitchener St and Bankside St, Auckland. With its four storeys constructed in the fashionable Italianate style, it served the city well as the Royal Hotel until 1869.

Statements at the time described the new building as a commodious and handsome edifice, and quickly gained a reputation as the grandest establishment in the city. Early tenants included the provincial government, and the Auckland Institute and Museum, while part of the first floor was a British army officers' mess used by soldiers from the nearby Albert Barracks.

Exclusively male in its membership for over 120 years, it was shortly after the earliest woman after-dinner speaker, Minister of Finance Ruth Richardson, addressed the club in 1989, and Dame Catherine Tizard became New Zealand’s first female governor-general 1990-96 (traditionally the governor-general was bestowed honorary membership for the length of their term) that the club opened its doors to women.

As the oldest surviving gentlemen's club in Auckland, and one of the city's earliest surviving structures of 'commercial Italianate' design, most of its features are now covered under a carpet of vibrant green ivy making it a distinctive standout among the contemporary landscape.