First Lady of Fox Glacier

Press, 22 June 1983, Page 20

First Lady of Fox Glacier

In 1928 when the Sullivan family opened the Fox Glacier Hostel) their daughter Mary was a small child. Now, 55 years later, Mrs Mary Kerr still runs the hotel in which she has spent nearly all her life. She is one of very few women licensees in New Zealand, a shrewd businesswoman and one of the memorable characters of South Westland. The Sullivan family were — and many still are — farmers on the plain that lies west of the Alps around Fox Glacier. In the early days, before the formation of a motor-road south of Franz Josef Glacier, people with a yen to see the Fox Glacier used to rise on horseback from Franz Josef, some 25 km away, through a range of steep bush-clad hills. Understandably, they were' in no condition to make the return trip the same day, and many stayed overnight in the Sullivan homestead. . The idea of a hostel for tourists was an obvious extension of the family’s private hospitality, and in 1928 the imposing two-storey building was opened. In those days it was not licensed and catered for visitors who stayed at least a week. Most came from England or the United States and visited the gla-

ciers as part of a world trip. The two glaciers had become world-renowned and the 1930 s saw a great upsurge of interest in the outdoor pursuits offered by the area. By this time, too, the road had been finished, linking Fox Glacier with Christchurch and tour coaches became a common sight. The road finished not far south of Fox Glacier, however, necessitating a long return trip, back over Arthur’s Pass to Canterbury. The Haast Pass route from South Westland to Central Otago was not comEleted until many years iter, with the finishing touches being put to the Great South Road in the early 19605. Throughout this time the Sullivans provided good West Coast .hospitality for their guests, with the aid of a massive wood-burning stove (still in place, but no longer functional, in the guests’ lounge), an electricity generator operated by a nearby stream, and roaring log fires. With no central heating in the bedrooms, hotel life was much more convivial and guests congregated around the fires rather than closeting themselves in their rooms as they do today. With the onset of World War 11, Mrs Kerr re-

members, many overseas guests were unable to return home and 10 or more lived in the hotel for the duration of their exile. Thirty years ago the boarding-house was granted a liquor licence and became the Fox Glacier Hotel, but the serving of liquor brought none of the problems usually associated with bars. Mrs Kerr puts the harmonious nature of her pub down to the family atmosphere for which it is famous. Sensing a brawl in the offing, this diminutive woman has been known to grasp the hands raised in anger and join them in a handshake, no doubt with a few well-chosen words of advice. Being a woman, she believes, has made her task as publican easier. In her 27 years as bar manager she cannot remember a single violent incident. Staff as well as patrons appreciate the cosy family feeling of the hotel. Many have lived in the staff quarters for years and think of the place as home. Mrs Kerr treats them all as members of a family and there is a great deal of loyalty amongst them. Time, it seems, has stood almost still at the Fox Glacier Hotel. In spite of the dictates of modern tourism, the hotel has main-

tained an old-world charm and graciousness which has become almost extinct. The tables in the dining room are set with silver tea services; the meals are huge, freshly-cooked and homely, the receptionist has a genuine smile; and when an Australian couple arrived at the hotel recently asking to stay in Room 22, the room they had spent their honeymoon in 35 years previously, it was still recognisable. For Mrs Kerr, even 48 years in the hotel trade has not dampened her enthusiasm. She is keen for the hotel to stay in the family, and although she says she will be happy to relinquish the reins, it will not be until someone else in the family is ready to take over. Of all the changes she has seen in tourism, she is most concerned about the speed with which visitors travel through an area today. For someone whose business is recreation, refreshment and relaxation, the picture of coach-loads of tourists arriving after dark and departing at daybreak for another day’s driving is incompatible. But whether they come for 12 hours or two weeks, the hospitality never changes. Mrs Kerr, the First Lady of Fox Glacier, will make sure of that.