Milford Sound History

Milford Sound is completely hidden from view from the open ocean so it was left to John Grono, a sealer, who finally discovered it in 1823 and named it Milford Haven after his birthplace in Wales.

Milford's first settler, Donald Sutherland (the hermit of Milford due to his hostile and curmudgeonly behaviour to those he disliked) arrived in 1877 and built a three hut "City of Milford". After marrying Elizabeth Samuel (the mother of Milford as she mellowed Donald's behaviour), Donald transformed Milford City by building a 12 room accommodation house (Milford's first hotel).

Donald Sutherland discovered Sutherland Falls in 1880, the world fifth highest dropping 580m in three leaps. Donald lived in Milford for 42 years and died in 1919.

A government hotel was built at the original hostel site in 1928 and stayed there until it was destroyed by fire in 1952. The rebuilt version opened in 1954.