When hotels were central to society

The Early Hotels of Old Wanganui book cover.

It seems so long ago that I met up with Kevin Luff at the Heritage Room and he told me he was researching the early hotels of Wanganui. I thought at the time this would be an extremely complex piece of work, given the name changes, and I am so grateful to Kevin, that when he handed the book on to me, the initial research was meticulous, giving me a wonderful platform to launch the written history.
When writing this book I have found all the elements of a best selling TV series - love, betrayal, sensation and humour, interspersed with tragedy.
Who would have thought that "Honest" John Gotty of the early Rutland Hotel was held to be the grandson of the great German writer and statesman, Goethe through a romantic liaison, or that part of what was allegedly Von Tempksy's skull would lie in state at the Phoenix (later Occidental) Hotel, or the owner of the Imperial Hotel was a world famous Highland dancer? Fred Whitlock, of pickle fame, ran the Red Lion and Rutland at one stage, and Mayor WHG Foster owed his living to his hotel.
To me it is really exciting to share these stories and wonderful old photographs, that capture an age when everything was designed for beauty as well as practicality, and the publicans (both men and women) held a unique position in society.
I was overwhelmed by the support publicans received from the community, and how, in the main, they were an honourable group of men with philanthropic ideals - especially in the early days of Wanganui's settlement. Each publican has a story to tell, and I have found them fascinating.
I wrote the history of 28 hotels yet today only three of those still operate as a community hotel - the Red Lion, Castlecliff and the Commercial, though many others have reinvented themselves and continue to serve the community in other ways. How times have changed from when there was virtually a hotel on every corner.
The book launch is on Saturday, June 18, at the RSA in St Hill St at 10am. Those attending will be able to buy books at a discounted price.
I would particularly love to have my photograph taken with descendants of these early hoteliers, so please feel free to come along!
Local historian Lyn Teki will also have a display of hotel memorabilia and artefacts at the book launch.