Wellington Wine and Food Society

Date: 1961

By: Murray-Oliver, Anthony Audrey St. Clair Murray, 1915-1986

Reference: Eph-A-DINING-WFS-1950/1960s

Description: Includes: 1955: Banquet to be held at Tangi Moana, 50 Queen's Drive, Houghton Bay, 15 November 1955. Invitation card 1958: Monde Marie Coffee Shop requests the pleasure of the company of Tony Murray-Clive, esq at a sherry party to mark its opening on Monday 24th November [1958]. Invitation card 1959?: Typecript blue invitation card signed J H W Peterson Cloer, for a monthly dinner on Thursday 26 March [1959?] 1961: Wellington Wine and Food Society Inc. Grand Hotel Wellington, 25 February 1961 [Menu] Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Letterpress on light card, mainly menus

Date: 1955 - 1959

Reference: Eph-B-DINING-WFS-1950s

Description: Includes: Undated: Catering & Hotel Publications Limited, 14 Collingwood Street, Wellington N.4., New Zealand. Box 2751. Letterhead sheet (2 copies) Facade de France. Box 2751 Wellington New Zealand. Telephone 27-464. 125 Grant Road, Wellington. [Letterhead paper] Monsieur Robert. Personal (Envelope with illustration of girl balancing fruit tray on her head) (2 copies) 1953: Inaugural dinner of the Wellington Wine and Food Society, Saturday 7 November [1953]. Invitation sheet (2 copies) 1955: First dinner of the Council of the Wine and Food Society of Wellington. Helen Lowry Hall, 31 Messines Road Karori Wellington, 27 August 1955. Menu Second dinner of the Wine and Food Society of Wellington. Saturday September 3rd 1955, at Helen Lowry Hall, 31 Messines Road, Karori. Wellington New Zealand. Menu with guest list on back page (3 copies) Third dinner of the Wine and Food Society of Wellington. Tuesday November 15th 1955, at Tangi Moana, 50 Queen's Drive Houghton Bay Wellington New Zealand. Menu with guest list on back page (4 copies: 26, 28, 32 and 120 of a limited edition) Monsieur Robert (chef Robert Beasley). 14 eme Decembre '55. [Handwritten dinner menu] for Mrs A Mackintosh "et cinq amis distinguees" 1956: Ticket announcing a gala evening in the French style, 14 July 1956. 1957: Monsieur Robert. 29 eme Mai 1957. [Handwritten menu]. (3 copies: Mr A.D. & Mme McIntosh; Mr D A Bryan O.B.E. with 3 friends; Lesley Stohn & Mmd Stohn and with 3 friends) Monsieur Robert. Juin 1957. W Basil Honour avec quatre collegues [Handwritten menu] Monsieur Robert. Menu a la carte. 14 eme juillet 1957. (3 copies including two with pencilled name at top right: Staffan, Parker) Monsieur Robert. 26 juillet 1957. L S Stohn et Mme Stohn avec quatres convives. Menu 1958: French gala day, Monday 14th July [1958?] at Monsieur Robert. Head waiter Raymond; wine butler Beresford. Card (2 copies) Monsieur Robert, 125 Grant Road. The membership is now open once again ... October 1958 [Small card] R J Beasley requests the pleasure of the company of .... at a private pre-Christmas sherry party to be held at Monsieur Robert, 125 Grant Road. 12 December 1958. Invitation card (2 copies) The Wine & Food Society of Wellington. [List of events Oct-Dec 1958?] 1959: Dinner by the New Zealand military adviser in honour of Military Advisors attending the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation Tenth Military Advisers' Conference. "Monsieur Robert", 125 Grant Road, Wellington, 3 April 1959. Menu & toast list (2 copies) Dinner by the Secretary of External Affairs in honour of delegates attending the Fifth meeting of the Council of Ministers of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation. "Monsieur Robert", 125 Grant Road Wellington, 8 April 1959. Menu & toast list (2 copies) Monsieur Robert. The private dining club will re-open on Tuesday 3rd February 1959. Flyer Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Letterpress on light card, mainly menus

Date: 1994

From: Greenall, Frank :Cartoons published in City Voice. 1993-1995

Reference: A-300-143

Description: A group seated around a bar table, complaining Quantity: 1 original cartoon(s). Physical Description: Ink on paper, 296 x 418 mm

Date: 10 Oct 2000

From: Vintage years - the wine industry in New Zealand

By: Buck, John Kenneth, 1942-

Reference: OHInt-0535/1

Description: John Buck was born in Auckland in 1942. Describes how his father served on warships in World War II and the family lived in naval housing including on Motuihe Island. Recalls their move to Wellington in 1947 when his father was demobbed. Discusses family relationships. Describes going to Auckland in 1962 to work for Arthur Hughes, a firm which imported supplies for beverage bottlers. Notes that he helped at a vineyard belonging to the firm and became interested in wine growing. Recalls meeting Eric Roberts of Grant's Whisky who helped him get into a course on wines and spirits in London. Talks about the trip over by ship and marrying his girlfriend Wendy in London. Recalls London in the 1960s, influences including Mary Quant and the Beatles and meeting the Rolling Stones. Describes working at Stowells of Chelsea while he did the two year course. Discusses a campervan tour of Europe, different alcohols, hospitality and the European respect for wine. Contrasts this with New Zealand's `boozy' culture. Describes returning to New Zealand, meeting Graham Kerr, the `Galloping Gourmet' and the offer of a partnership in the National Food and Wine Centre. Recalls his involvement in the Campaign for Civilised Drinking with Tony and Phil Ashenden in 1967. Mentions the number of wine and food societies, being cellarmaster for the Wellington Wine and Food Society and encouraging the consumption of New Zealand wines. Discusses Wellington restaurants in the 1960s including Le Normandie. Mentions Des Britten, Tony Astle and the White House. Recalls his own media output about wine including radio programmes, a book and columns in the Listener and Sunday Star Times. Describes being a consultant and wine judge. Comments on changes in New Zealand in his absence. Mentions the end of six o'clock closing and the beginning of a restaurant culture. Discusses some New Zealand wine labels at the time, including McWilliams and Corbans, and young winemakers. Comments on the change from fortified wine to table wine and the role of wine awards in improving quality. Describes his involvement in commercial wine trading at Johnsonville and Hataitai. Recalls the purchase of a Te Mata property, the Coleraine Vineyard, its replanting and the first wine in 1980. Describes moving to Auckland to work for New Zealand Wines and Spirits. Mentions Douglas and Sir Kenneth Myers, political lobbying and the role of the Wine Institute. Talks about being chair of the Institute. Comments on the growth of the wine industry and the arrival of big companies in Hawkes Bay. Discusses the breakthrough of wines sales in supermarkets and important liquor licensing changes. Discusses the 1986 vine pull. Mentions Treasury and Roger Douglas. Discusses wine exports, the `miracle' growth of the New Zealand wine indsutry, its image overseas and the involvement of his wife and sons in the industry. Interviewer(s) - Janice Aplin Accompanying material - Newspaper cuttings Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 4 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3114.

From: Murray-Oliver, Anthony Audrey St Clair Murray, 1915-1986 : Papers

Reference: Series-2865

Description: Murray-Oliver founded the Wellington Wine and Food Society in 1955 and was its first president. Monsieur Robert (Robert John Beasley), a Wellington chef, was closely involved in this venture. As the licencing laws of the time forbid the serving of wine in restaurants, Monsieur Robert set up a Private Dining Club at the end of 1955 to overcome this problem. The Dining Club became the headquarters of the Wellington Wine and Food Society.

Date: 1958

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: EP/1958/1416-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 6.5 x 6.5 cm

Date: 1958

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: EP/1958/1414-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 6.5 x 6.5 cm

Date: 1958

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: EP/1958/1415-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 6.5 x 6.5 cm

Date: 1958

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: EP/1958/1417-F

Description: Photograph taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 6.5 x 6.5 cm