The building was originally constructed in 1905 as a railways administration block in Woburn, Lower Hutt.

The intention was to provide accommodation at the higher end of the market, and attract weekend visitors from Wellington.

Both lanes of the Remutaka Hill road were closed for more than four hours,[3] and a crane had to be brought in to rescue the load.

[4] The renovated building was opened as The White Swan Hotel in October 2003, and included a restaurant, bar and seven themed rooms on the upper floor.

[1] The name of the hotel is linked with the story of the rescue of the passengers and crew of the SS White Swan, a steamer that struck a rock off the Wairarapa coast south of Castlepoint, on 29 June 1862.