Alexander Carter Graham - Mountaineer and guide, hotel-keeper.1881-1957 .

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DescriptionAlex was the sixth children of Isabella Kathleen Ford (formerly Garland, née Newberry) and her husband, David Millar Graham. Isabella was nurse and midwife to much of south Westland and David was a ferryman, a goldminer and then a baker.Alexander Carter Graham,South Westland photographer.1881-1957

Alex enjoyed climbing on Franz Josef Glacier, and was taken deeper into the mountains by miner and explorer Arthur Woodham, a close family friend. Expeditions with Dr Ebenezer Teichelmann and the Reverend H. E. Newton, initially up the Fox Glacier, led him to take up careers in climbing and guiding.Alex Graham remained at Waiho, developing guiding and climbing facilities with the same insistence on enjoyment and safety. His speciality was swagging heavy loads, often including Teichelmann's full-plate camera, he led exploring and climbing trips in the Cook, Waiatoto, Rakaia, Wanganui and Matukituki river valleys. He also made major ascents on Mt Cook, Mt Tasman and other peaks in the central alps, many with his brother. Among his pioneering climbs were first ascents of Mt La Perouse and Mt Aspiring. In his 50s he guided in the Copland, Cook and Arawata river valleys. He also took numerous parties on easier Copland Pass and Franz Josef Glacier trips.

Adept at making people comfortable in camp and encouraging them over difficult terrain, and equally at home in bushed gorges and on steep rock and ice, Alex Graham was perhaps New Zealand's most versatile mountaineer. In 1911 Alex Graham bought the small hotel at Waiho together with Jim and Rose Graham, his brother and sister-in-law. Assisted by their other brothers David and Jack, Alec and Jim winched the building by hand up a river terrace to a flood-free site and added a second storey. The family atmosphere created by Rose as hostess and Alec as guide gave the Franz Josef Glacier Hotel a unique character.

During the First World War, from August 1917, Alex served as a stretcher-bearer in France and in October he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. Subsequently wounded and twice evacuated to England, on 22 January 1919 in London he married Louisa Lydia Woodham, Arthur Woodham's niece. The couple were to have four children.Alec Graham died in Greymouth hospital on 12 July 1957, survived by three daughters and a son; Louisa had died the previous year.

MB 1065 - A.C. Graham photographs
Graham, Alexander Carter, 1881-1957
File New Zealand people G-N. Graham family relatives and friends.
University of Canterbury.
Date of Photo1881-1957Map^[1]External LinkTeara biographyContributorHeather Newby

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Location (city or town)South WestlandPersonAlexander Carter GrahamEventAlexander Carter Graham,South Westland photographer.1881-1957 .

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Date Created8th October 2022CommentsRob Lunn
Very interesting and thanks for your post

Jill Kramer
Great post. Thanks

John Jacobs
Yet another story of a great West Coast pioneer. Enjoyed this read.

Elaine Matthews
Thanks for this.

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Alexander Carter Graham - Mountaineer and guide, hotel-keeper.1881-1957 .

Editing is temporarily disabled