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History
THE MAN HIMSELF - JOHNNY BARR
Johnny Barr was a settler in Otago in the 1840's who had arrived by boat from Paisley, Scotland. Among his many jobs, he was appointed as Dunedin's very fist gaoler (jailer).
During his kind rule, Johnny Barr gave rise to a legend which was repeated endlessly for years beyond his time. Johnny Barr, it was said, "looked on himself as a host dispensing hospitality to wanderers, and used often to allow his prisoners out for a day, but with strict injunction to return early or they would be locked out."
The story had such appeal that it was also attached to Barr's successor, Henry Monson, though incorrectly, for Monson was equally kind-hearted but much more of a stickler.
In 1853, after Barr's brief run as gaoler, he became the first substantial manufacturer of cloth in New Zealand.
WHY WE CHOSE THE NAME
We had been searching for the perfect name for our restaurant for months, and upon reading one passage about Johnny Barr, we all immediately fell for the name and were delighted to take on his motto "a host dispensing hospitality to wanderers", as it captures the essence of Queenstown and it's many travelers so well.
HISTORICAL DETAILS SOURCED FROM:
- "Early Days in Central Otago" by R.I. Gilkison, page 70.
- "Pioneers Behind Bars; Dunedin Prison and it's earliest inmates 1850-1870" by Olive Trotter.
- "Dunedin Contextual Thematic History", Volume 1, Theme 11, page 212.
Just like Johnny Barr, we see ourselves as hosts dispensing hospitality to wanderers. With such a transient Queenstown population, this motto seemed like the perfect sentiment to embrace and share with our sandwich loving patrons. We also think it's important to keep New Zealand history alive and kicking!