Maureen Gordon

  • Hall of Fame
  • 2013

I'd always been in hospitality and had been involved in family/private hotels for a long time. The real beginning of my career in the ‘licensed hotel industry’ began in 1964 when my husband Peter and I took our young family to Drury and started the Jolly Farmer. We were there for 5 years, then went on to the Carpenter's Arms on Greys Avenue in the city, acquired a wine shop in Paihia, then with the redevelopment of Grey's Avenue took on the license of the Kings Arms Tavern in Newton. The Royal George in Newmarket then became a part of our business expansion. Australia beckoned with the purchase of a hotel in Sydney, the Nepean in Penrith.

After the passing of my husband Peter, I relinquished our other hotels but retained the Kings Arms and it is now the only remaining hotel in our family, still going strongly, with a big presence in the music scene, locally and internationally. We were recently voted the best boutique music venue in NZ for 2015; only possible with the great support from my family. How wonderful to still be involved in hospitality! What a life!