Central Buller Hotel, Fern Flat, Murchison.ca.1911.

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DescriptionCentral Buller Hotel, Fern Flat, Murchison.

Nelson Provincial Museum 324845

Rebekah Farr
Photo will be around 1911... The Central Buller Hotel (as far as I can tell) was run by my great great grandmother. At her 2nd marriage to Stephen Oxnam her name was Johanna. Stephen owned Oxnam's Hotel. When he died in 1894 she inherited the pub and the following year married again to Digby Hunte (now called Roselin). Oxnam's burnt down in 1896. They planned to carry on the business in the barn across the road until a new pub could be built. The building and contents were insured although for less than the worth but they were able to build again. The new pub must have been built before 1899 because I have a photo of my great parent's wedding there in that year. Digby left for Wellington in 1905 to stay with his sister, left a note there saying that he was taking his life... and they never found his body. In 1911 Roselin left Fern Flat and went to Napier to live with her daughter. Bertrand Spiers, her 3rd son from her first marriage, took over the pub. So... long story short I'm pretty sure this will be taken around 1911 and this is Bertrand and his family and one of his brothers (to the left with the dog).

Downie CollectionPhotographerDownieMap^[1]ContributorMaye Dunn

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Location (city or town)Fern FlatOrganisation (eg business)Central Buller HotelOxnans Hotel

Category Information

Category TagHotels

From Facebook

Date Created10th June 2019CommentsGraham Ngatuere Yes it was.

Geoffrey King Oh they had a band at Fern Flat, Pam Longstaff knows all about the Fern Flat band.

Graham Ngatuere Yeah they got very flat after the fifth jug...bit wobbly too...

Pauline Barrow Where is fern flat please

Mark Merriman Pauline Barrow I think on the west side of the Buller river. Turn right after you cross the bridge out of Murchison that heads to the west coast. There is a story about a flying fox catching fire crossing the river from the pub one night with some local chap in it. I think the wire rope was there for a long time afterwards, may still be.

Graham Ngatuere Pauline Barrow just out of Murchison built way back before our time...1800 s 1900.. around that era had a grocery shop...butcher's...Murchison has a new cafe there and you can look at a lot of their history..

Bob Broadhurst
Manage
No photo description available.

Pauline Barrow I like that hotel about what year would this be

Maye Dunn Sorry Pauline Barrow it is undated.

Phil Millar Maye Dunn I thought Pauline asked the where about's of it not the date>

Maye Dunn Phil Millar she did ask where abouts and the question was answered by Mark Merriman, then she asked what year and I said it is undated.

Graham Ngatuere Pauline Barrow about the 1890 1900s I think

Graham Ngatuere Just trying to remember what I read in Murchison new cafe...

Rob Stoddart Love that building

Jeremy Sutherland
Jeremy Sutherland There used to be a brewery at Fern Flat as well

Pauline Barrow Thankyou everyone for your help I like the coast history

Admin Team - West Coast History and Recollect
Admin Team - West Coast History and Recollect This is not the original Oxnam hotel but a later one replacing the Oxnam one that got burnt down

Graham Ngatuere We help to keep it alive......

Stuart Fairbairn
looks more like the OWEN RIVER Hotel

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Central Buller Hotel, Fern Flat, Murchison.ca.1911.

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