Invercargill Archives

Overview In 1965, as Te Anau faced a surge in population due to two major government construction projects in the district, John Donaldson saw an opportunity to set up his own pharmacy business in the town. A lean-to built onto another shop on the main street was the start of a 31-year tenure as Te Anau's pharmacist during which time he was also involved in the community's first ambulance service as well as its high school and local council. All of these topics are discussed through the interview during...

Overview George's introduction to Te Anau coincided with his involvement in the development of the Te Anau glow worm caves in 1948. The town was still village-sized when he and his wife Alma decided a year later to set up a small grocery shop amid the handful of cribs that existed between the manuka scrub on the lakefront. George has been a founding member of a few organisations in the town and instrumental in forming the Te Anau Volunteer Fire Brigade which in 2004 celebrated its 50th anniversary. In...