CRAMP, MARY nee MUNRO

Mary Munro was born in Rosshire, Scotland about 1862, and as a girl she emigrated to Queensland with her parents.  In Townsville, she married John Cramp.

Widowed, with two sons, Mary later came to New Zealand and established a business in Gisborne, where she remained until her entry into the hotel business at Eltham, taking over the Eltham Hotel, commonly known as the “Railway”, in the days of Eltham’s early settlement.

In 1912 Mary moved to Hawera, where she purchased the Central Hotel in Union Street, being the licensee for the greater part of her 30 years in Hawera and remaining the owner of the premises until her death.

She took up private residence in Albion Street and remained there until she disposed of her home just after the outbreak of the Second World War, moving into private apartments at the hotel.

Many Hawera institutions, sporting and otherwise, and many worthy causes owed much to Mary for her practical support and keen interest in their activities.  She was a parishioner of St Mary’s Anglican Church and gave generously to various charities.

Mary Cramp died on the 20 October 1941 and is buried in the Hawera cemetery.

SOURCES

Obituary “Hawera Star” 21 Oct 1941