The Traveller's Rest

At one point there were three hotels in Governors Bay alone! Reading between the lines of old newspaper articles, three was two too many - there were bankruptcies, a suspicious fire and a number of 'rebirthings' before the Ocean View emerged as the sole accommodation house and watering hole.

The first 'hotel' was the 'Traveller's Rest', strategically situated at the junction of the bridle track to Lyttelton and 'Forster's Track' over the hill (precursor to Dyers Pass Rd but running up the other side of the valley). The building was close to the little bridge that is currently being repaired. There is one great photo of the Traveller's rest - but I can't publish it here until I purchase the right to reproduce the photo from the Alexander Turnbull Library.

Working at the Aotearoa Centre yesterday, I discovered the license conditions under which William Foster was required to operate. The list tells us a lot about life at the head of the harbour in the early 1860s, especially the emphasis on the welfare of animals who provided both livelihood and transport...

•  All the premises to be kept in good repair. To provide in his house, besides the tap room, or room answering as such, one public and one private sitting room.

• Not less than six beds for travellers, in not less than three separate bedrooms.

• To provide a shed sufficiently water-tight, and fit for the accommodation of at least four horses.

•  At all times to keep a proper supply of water for the house, and for horses and cattle, and to provide in a convenient position a proper trough for watering cattle.

• To keep at all times a proper supply of oats, and oaten or grass hay. Oats to be charged for to the travellers at not more than sixpence per quart, and to be always served out with the authorised quart measure.

• To keep a lamp burning with two burners from sunset to sunrise, giving sufficiently bright light, and being so lighted as to be conspicuous from a distance all round the house.

• To be sworn in and to act as a constable, especially when required by the Magistrates or Police.