This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Proposal for Classification report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. The Blackball Hilton is a two storeyed timber hotel building thought to date from either 1897 or 1908. With its hipped roof, full height verandah and near symmetry, the front elevation is almost archetypal of small town Edwardian hotel design. The building has an unsympathetic side addition dating from 1981. Private accommodation was added in 1991.