The 3033m-high summit of Mt Aspiring has captivated climbers, since Major Bernard Head of England and his New Zealand guides, Alec Graham and Jack Clarke first made it to the top on November 23, 1909.
The mountain, named Tititea by Maori for its "glistening peak", has also played a significant role in people's lives as a recreational asset, a high-country farming area, and an inspiration to artists down through the years.
A variety of featured speakers gave personal accounts about the different ways in which Mt Aspiring had influenced their backgrounds.
Mt Aspiring Station runholder John Aspinall spoke of his family's life farming the mountain valleys of the area, while Wanaka man Bill Durry gave a humorous account of his time as an 18-year-old helping to build huts for climbers and trampers keen to access the scenic wilderness.
Mountain guide Guy Cotter, of Lake Hawea, led a short remembrance tribute for the people who have died, either climbing Mt Aspiring, or while tramping in the 3555sq km Mt Aspiring National Park.
Wanaka artist and climber Martin Hill, of Wanaka, talked of the inspiration that the mountain gave to people, while also recounting the sadness it could also inflict, such as when his close friend and climbing companion John Pawson was killed in an accident last November.
Mr Hill showed a short film, featuring different images of the mountain and dedicated to Mr Pawson.
One of New Zealand's foremost mountain climbers, Allen Uren, of Wanaka, also spoke at length about the challenge and meaning to life the mountain gave him, as did Wanaka guide and veteran Mt Aspiring climber Geoff Wayatt.
Imagery played an important part during the evening's two-hour-long session.
A photography competition, with the mountain as its subject, was judged by Mr Hill and Wanaka photographer Gilbert Van Reenan.
It was won by Iain Guillard, with Michael Archer, second, and Lake Hawea glaciologist Trevor Chin third.
Lake Hawea man Geoff Small, one of New Zealand's leading exponents of big mountain skiing, also delighted the crowd with a tale about climbing the mountain to ski the western face of the peak.
