Skip to main content

Story: Glaciers and glaciation

Fox Glacier, 1872

Image
Fox Glacier, 1872

This watercolour of the lower end of the Fox Glacier was painted by Sir William Fox, who was premier at the time of his visit in 1872. Originally called the Albert Glacier, it was renamed after Fox to honour him. Since then most glaciers have melted considerably, and the Fox has thinned and retreated up the valley.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-113-018

by William Fox

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney, Glaciers and glaciation – Tasman, Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/10734/fox-glacier-1872 (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 1 March 2009, updated 1 April 2021.