Interview with Frank and Bronwyn Murphy

Frank Murphy was born in Palmerston, Otago in 1948. Describes his father's work on Bluecliffs Station and his mother's as station cook. Talks about the Bluecliffs area, the ownership of Bluecliffs Station by the Rhodes Estate and its management by Dr Woodhouse. Explains father's work on the farm and going away to boarding school. Discusses his relationship with his parents, attitudes to table manners, discipline, alcohol and smoking. Describes riding a horse to school, mustering on the station and his interest in rugby, cricket and race meetings. Lists a variety of jobs before going to work at Mosgiel Woollen Mills. Mentions getting used to office work and doing extra mural study at Otago University. Explains reasons for not completing study, for leaving his job and the receivership of Mosgiel Woollen Mills. Backgrounds a venture in woolscouring.

Bronwyn Murphy was born in Mosgiel in 1948. Mentions the Bisset family farm was at Momona and part of it is where the Dunedin airport is now located. Describes the fanily home, helping with cooking and chores, the childhood family routine and going to Sunday School. Comments on enjoying the open spaces as a child. Describes her schooling followed by working in a lawyer's office. Explains how she met Frank, dates, their decision to marry and their wedding day in 1970.

Describes living in Dunedin and on the Taieri before buying the Beaumont Hotel in 1982. Refers to its run down appearance, its physical layout, guest accommodation, clientele, hours of work, the area covered by the hotel, the financial help of the previous owners and their first winter there. Describes customers including forestry workers. Refers to farming and orchards. Describes the Beaumont community and local characters. Talks about music at the hotel. Discusses the attitude ot the locals to outsiders. Details their aims and goals when they first took over the hotel and the introduction of food for casual diners to minimise the effect of alcohol for motorists. Lists important local events including the Beaumont races, the Paradise Fishing Club competition, other activities on the river, and a pig hunting competition. Refers to the decline of the Beaumont Races in the context of drink driving. Explains the shift of the race to Wingatui and its impact. Describes the closure of the community hall, church and school. Mentions fund raising and Bob Woods.

Describes the dam project public meeting at Beaumont in 1989 and the destructive effect on the community. Explains his belief that ECNZ has been deliberately vague about the proposal. Discusses the second public meeting in 1991. Talks about the treatment of people selling to ECNZ, their absence from the hotel and a lack of farewells. Describes concerns about the environmental impact. Summarises the impact on the locals particularly in terms of uncertainty. Refers to ECNZ personnel and how they should have operated. Discusses interest groups Friends of Beaumont (FOB) and Residents of Beaumont (ROB). Discusses the national campaign run by musician Graeme Collins and local attitudes to him.

Explains their decision to sell the hotel in the context of the break up of the community and the decline in the hotel's turnover. Describes reluctance to sell to ECNZ and breaking the news to the local community. Describes their farewell, its emotional impact and new lessees Ray and Margaret Pankhurst. Describes the circumstances which led to them leasing the Fairfield Hotel. Talks about retaining links with the Beaumont community, continuing uncertainty in Beaumont and the stress suffered by locals. Explains their hopes for future of Beaumont.

Interviewer(s) - Helen Frizzell

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.25 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2630.

Photo of Frank Murphy as a child; phot of Bronym Bisset in 1959; photo of Frank and Bronwyn Murphy in 1995

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-004288 to OHLC-004291