| Biographical Display |
Surveyor, artist, school teacher, militia man. George Frederic Allen was invited by William Fox to move to Wanganui to act as district surveyor for the Wellington Provincial Government in 1862. A few years later, as the New Zealand Wars broke out, Allen found it necessary to change his occupation to teacher and militiaman. By 1869, however, he was able to return to surveying. His work on the upper Whanganui River took him into the mountains and he climbed Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. Allen built a summer camp and coaching stop between Waiouru and Taupo on the Waihohonu Stream. From there, he took guided tours into his beloved mountains. His writings were published in 1894 as Willis’ Guide Book of New Routes for Tourists, extolling the trip from Auckland to Wanganui through the mountains and down the Whanganui River.
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