The Philp family gathered in Vuda, Lautoka earlier this month for a weeklong reunion filled with laughter, joy, and cherished memories.
Relatives traveled from Seattle, Singapore, New Zealand, Sydney, and Hobart (Tasmania) to join the festivities hosted in Vuda.
Anthony Colin Philp Sr, affectionately known as Colin Philp, a respected businessman, mentioned this was the first time their weeklong gathering had been held in Fiji. Over 40 family members attended, making it a truly memorable event.
“It’s fantastic to have the younger generation here—many of them are visiting Fiji for the first time,” said Mr. Philp Sr, 79.
“Some family members hadn’t seen each other in 15, 20, or even 25 years. It’s been an extraordinary reunion.”
Mr. Philp Sr, born on November 4, 1947, in Hobart, Tasmania, has deep roots in Fiji. In 1949, his father Colin Philp, along with his uncles Barry and David—both naval architects—arrived in Fiji.
They purchased a charming old plantation homestead and constructed the Beachcomber Hotel (now the Pearl Resort) in Pacific Harbour.
Between 1950 and 1952, the property was rented to MGM Studios for the filming of His Majesty O’Keefe.
“I first came to Fiji when I was just three years old,” Mr. Philp Sr reminisced.
“Since then, we’ve been coming back on and off.”
He returned permanently in 1965 and started Tradewinds Marine in 1967, which managed water sports at the original Tradewinds Hotel. That company still operates yacht shops all over Fiji. His uncle Barry later built the Mocambo Hotel (now Novotel) in Nadi and the Reef Lodge Hotel, while his father constructed the Tradewinds Hotel in Lami.
“Our commercial interests have always been widespread and significant,” he said.
The Philp family’s legacy of investment continues to support the Fijian economy. They have proudly represented Fiji at international surfing events, including the Olympics, with Tony Philp Jr achieving notable success as a top-ranked athlete.
“There’s something truly magical about Fiji. Living in Lami back then was wonderful. We lived right on the foreshore, and developing the Tradewinds Hotel was a major project,” he shared.
After a brief stint at the University of Hawaii studying hotel management, Mr. Philp Sr returned to manage the Tradewinds Hotel and worked with Travelodge.
He also established Pizza Hut in Fiji, dabbled in boat building, and co-founded the Hot Bread Kitchen with Tiko Eastgate and Mere Samisoni.