A Southern Sojourn # 13

Invercargill. We've been there before, but this time the visit was a 'family history' visit.

We varied things somewhat as, in the past, I've gone from Manapouri via Lumsden. This time we went more directly south passing through Tuataupere and Riverton and approaching Invercargill from the west. A quite different route, including a lovely stretch of coastal road.

We stopped in Tuataupere for morning tea, as instructed by Klaske, and to have a look at the contents of a charming cafe-cum museum - Yesteryears. This was filled with collections of the ordinary and mundane from the early and mid-20th century - things we grew up with and remember well.

But we were in Invercargill to catch up with Graeme Mulligan & his wife Marie, and video an interview with them. Graeme is also keen on recording family history, and has a remarkable collection of photos and memorabilia. He was willing to share them with me, so here are some of them:

Graeme and Marie when young
Graeme even younger!
Graeme's father, Alexander (Sandy) Simpson Mulligan
Graeme & Ivy Brown on their wedding day, 24 February, 1920
Sandy Mulligan in 1955. Sandy is the inspiration for another project, more of which later.

But Graeme also has a collection of lovely photos of other Mulligans, so here are some of those:

This is Edwin Joseph Mulligan
and this is Agnes Gertrude Mulligan
While this is Margaret Elsie Mulligan, who lived in Canada for many years

and this is Frederick Charles Mulligan, who lived most of his adult life in Australia, before retiring in Patearoa
These two young fellows are cousins of my father, and to our amusement they have (almost) the same names as my brother and myself - they are Ron and Brian Mulligan
To my surprise Graeme had photos of my family, taken when I was very young (7?) and we still lived at Narbada Crescent in Khandallah
and a terrible quality print of a family portrait taken (probably by Peter Nicol) at Cashmere Avenue when I was in my early twenties.

But the real treasure was the discovery that Graeme has a diary written by his father during his time on Gallipoli!

A Southern Sojourn # 12

We had a number of reasons for our trip south - both a holiday and family history research were on the list.

In Manapouri, I was keen to have a look at any 'records' the Murrells might be willing to share, and to photograph some of their collection of paintings and photographs.

So, here are some of them:

Mussell Cove, Long Sound, Preservation Inlet by Peter Beadle
Beech Bush, Cascade Creek by Moore
Crooked Arm, Doubtful Sound
Lake Manapouri, with Hunter Mts in the background


Jack Murrell

And there were other delights, such as the photographs and trophies in the Guest House itself:

This fellow watches over one of the corridors!
Another fine specimen keeping watch sightlessly
An early view of the Guest House
A party in the Wilmot Pass
Apparently the Accommodation House at Lake Manapouri
Robert Murrell - Young Bob
Margaret Murrell with three of her sons - possibly Graham, Leslie & Burton
A young Leslie Murrell Burton & Alice Murrell & their children
Young Burton & Jack Murrell
Alice & Burton Murrell
The dining room fireplace, Grandview Guest House
Kitchen scales in front of the kitchen window, Grand View Guest House

And there were a couple of real treasures which Jack & Klaske were willing to share with me:

A file-box of recipe cards put together by Margaret Murrell, capturing a selection of Guest House 'standards' (more of them another day)
Manapouri Post Office record book, 1896, which was kept by the Murrells and tracked all of the letter & parcel deliveries by Post during the period!
And a delightful scrapbook of ephemera and memorabilia kept by the (first) Margaret Murrell
These are a collection of lace samples

This is how scrapbooking was done originally!

A Southern Sojourn # 11

It was a grey day, and dampness filled the air, but cruising Milford Sound was delightful - the air was crisp, albeit damp, the launch was warm and dry, there was coffee available, the ship's pilot provided insightfull commentary on occasion, and sights the were/are remarkable.

And then when we'd finished, we drove back to Manapouri the way we'd come - with a few stops along the way!

A Southern Sojourn #10

One of the reasons for spending time in Manapouri, was to take another trip to Milford Sound. We had been there only once before, in 1998, when we took my mother to visit Manapouri.

We had decided we would get to Milford early enough to get one of the first cruises of the day, as later cruises are significantly more expensive. That meant an fairly early start from Manapouri, as the Sound is a good 2 hours drive away, and we had no idea what the weather would be like en route, or at the other end.

As you can see, the weather wasn't particularly wonderful, but the clouds leant the landscape a moody and changeable aspect.

Despite the attractiveness of the landscape and temptations to pause, we didn't - promising ourselves we would once we had a cruise on the Sound and were on the return journey.

The terminal from which the cruises leave is very modern, and surprisingly large. And we clearly weren't alone in deciding to cruise early in the day, as a good-sized (& natured) crowd had already gathered.

The cruise launches are sizable, mainly modern and well-appointed.

That's ours - Juicy Lucy!

Although there are quite a variety, and some which provide overnight cruising (& therefore sleeping accommodation), and some are noticeably different.

The cruise took us right to the mouth of the Sound, and we were surprised by how many different vessels we saw - including a small cruise ship which wasn't based in Milford Harbour!

Being a Fiord, the Sound is the result of glaciation, which produced the precipitious walls and bare slopes rising to considerable heights.

And of course, there are innumerable waterfalls, some cascading from great heights with few interruptions, crashing into the rocks or sea with considerable force.

However, some of the falls only appear intermittently, after heavy rain has fallen, and when they have disgorged the surplus water, stop flowing.

If the weather is clear, Mitre Peak towers over the Harbour. And the harbour is quite busy during the season.

Although some are not at all perturbed by all the comings and goings and the hustle and bustle!

And then we'd finished our cruise.

So it was time to head back to Manapouri, there not being a lot else to do in Milford Sound unless one is equipped from walking in bush-country. And we weren't.

So it was into the car and back up to the pass and the Homer Tunnel. The climb up is steep and winding; the inland side much more moderate.

This area is just below the Tunnel on the seaward side, and I did wonder if there was any significance in the name at this jumbled, tumbled location!

Once you emerge from the Homer Tunnel, there is no mistaking that you're in alpine territory!



And there to greet you are the ever-present Keas, looking for food,






or whatever else they can steal.

And the road winds down through Beech Forest which provides some stunning glimpses of fearsome water-courses

as they roil and boil their way down to join in larger rivers.

Watched over by keas, of course!

Then back to Manapouri, to dry out and relax.