Tourism and Farming 1924-1958

Following its use as a quarantine station the island was leased to different people. The most notable was Bob Miller, who tried exotic farming (e.g. angora rabbits) and early tourism ventures. Bob Miller brought thousands of visitors to see Commander Byrd’s Antarctic dogs in late 1928 (4000 on one day!) on the Waikana and the Waireka.

The photo shows captains of the dog teams with dogs in front of what had been the single women’s quarters of the Quarantine Station. This building had been closed four years before and was already partly dismantled. Ninety dogs were rested (not quarantined) on the Island on the way to Antarctica. They and their handlers stayed for a month.

Bob Miller extended the Lodge with parts of the ‘Modern Joinery’ exhibit from the ‘NZ and South Seas Exhibition 1925-1926’. Much of the exterior of the current Lodge comes from this material, particularly stained glass. Bob Miller also bought the ‘Fun Factory’ and ‘Fiji Exhibition’ and ‘Scenic Railway’. No visible signs except some rails and railroad spikes remain of these.

Bob Miller removed the middle floor of the Married Quarters and the cubicles to make one open hall (as it is today) for a dance hall. Music was provided by a gramophone or piano.

From 1943 to 1957 the Fentons held the lease and unprofitably farmed sheep, cattle and poultry.