A Mustang owners history lesson 101: The first incarnation of the Bealey Hotel was called The Glacier Hotel although it was nowhere near the Bealey Glacier. The hotel was built by the provincial council to coincide with the opening of the West Coast Road in 1865, and was managed by a succession of charismatic licensees.  As gold fever took hold and tourism boomed, the hotel transformed into a popular destination. Over the years, it has been blighted by fire, near bankruptcies and other misfortunes - but today the Bealey Hotel lives on as a popular stopover for tourists heading to Arthur's Pass and the West Coast. (Click insert image to see larger historic image)

Bathurst Run to Arthurs Pass Sunday 8th October

A great run again organised by Peter and Pauline Watt in conjunction with their 'Top of the South Road Trip'.

Meeting at West Melton Community Centre 25 Mustangs of all models gathered for the start.

We welcomed members from the Manawatu club and new members whom joined us for the event. As we cruised along SH 73 we picked up a couple of members at Sheffield and Springfield. With 29 cars and 57 members we continued to the Bealey Hotel for our lunch.

You have to give credit to the managers and staff at the Bealey for an absolutely fabulous lunch, no show of running out of anything and seconds were available. Managers Casey and Sharon went for a walk around our Mustangs picking out there favourite. The managers choice award winning a bottle of wine from the Bealey and a box of chocolates donated by Peter and Pauline. The winner driving an old chrome bumper mustang was Glenn & Kathryn Martin.