The Kauri Timber Company, Limited (KTC) Auckland was from 1888 to 1971 a large logging and sawmilling company in New Zealand.
Auckland Timber Company Building (right), after its takeover by the Kauri Timber Company in 1888. A wire suspension bridge hosted rails to allow the transfer of goods from the factory to the mill on trollies.1886 birds-eye view of Kauri Timber Co
KTC was formed in 1888, with a capital of £1,250,000, paid up to £750,000, and its operations were of a very comprehensive nature. Besides KTC's headquarters in Melbourne and a branch in Sydney, there were sixteen branches in New Zealand, where the timber was milled,[1] including Hokianga Sawmill Company. The forests owned by KTC made it the fifth-largest landholding company in the country, which removed much of North Island’snative forest, initially kauri and later kahikatea,[2][3] assuring steady supplies for its mills for many years. Between 300 and 400 men were engaged in the Auckland mill and factory, and throughout the whole of the company's operations in mills, stores, and forests, some 5000 or 6000 people were employed. In its extensive export trade the company employed a large fleet of vessels, and was represented in the markets of Great Britain, Cape Colony, Australia and the South Sea Islands.[1] The operations of the company expanded to Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands, where it merged in 1925 with San Cristoval Estates Ltd. to form the Vanikoro Kauri Timber Company.[4]
The Auckland mill burnt down in 1942[5] and a new yard opened in Penrose in 1944. The 4-storey office at 104 Fanshawe St, which had been opened in 1882 by KTC's predecessor, Auckland Timber Co, and is now a Category 1 listed building, was sold to Austral Super Paint Ltd[3] and a single storey office opened in the new yard.[6]
KTC was hit by 'the Menzies bloody Credit Squeeze' mini-budget in 1961 and invited Fletcher Holdings to buy KTC's New Zealand assets. First the Christchurch plywood factory, Butler Bros, Stuart & Chapman and Ellis & Burnand were sold on 5 June 1961 for NZ£750,000 (A£930,000), though they were said to be worth well in excess of £1 million. KTC's other New Zealand assets were sold to Fletcher for £1.6 million later in the year. KTC's customers and senior staff were not happy with the takeover, causing profitability to drop.[7] They were merged into Fletcher Challenge in 1981.[8]
Kauri Timber Co building in 2019Kauri Timber Company's timber train at Waipapa, laden with logs, 1912
Kauri Timber Company was sold to East Asiatic Company in 1971.[9] Chatlee mill at Smithton was upgraded, 'home centres' were opened in Adelaide and Melbourne and Devonport and Deloraine sawmills were sold to J. & T. Gunn. Kauri Holdings Ltd was listed on the Victoria Stock Exchange[10] in 1987.[11]
Premises at Custom Street West, Auckland, with the Joinery and Box Departments at the left, and the head office at the right, joined by an overhead walkway, ca 1906
Balustrades and balusters, ca. 1906
Gates, ca. 1906
Trusses, ca. 1906
Referencesedit
^ abKauri Timber Company. In: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Auckland Provincial District). The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1902, Christchurch.
^"Food Ingredients Specialist – Kauri NZ » About Us » History". www.kaurifood.com. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
^Michael Roche, John Dargavel and Jenny Mills. "TRACKING THE KTC FROM KAURI TO KARRI TO CHATLEE" (PDF). p. 203.
^"COMPANIES (ACQUISITION OF SHARES) (VICTORIA) CODE Section 58 DECLARATION". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. General (National : 1977 - 1987). 3 February 1987. p. 354. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
External linksedit
New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9073, 6 June 1888
Kauri Timber Company, Freemans Bay, Auckland, and Massey's Special Constables, during the 1913 Waterfront Strike
January 01, 1970
kauri, timber, company, limited, auckland, from, 1888, 1971, large, logging, sawmilling, company, zealand, auckland, timber, company, building, right, after, takeover, 1888, wire, suspension, bridge, hosted, rails, allow, transfer, goods, from, factory, mill, . The Kauri Timber Company Limited KTC Auckland was from 1888 to 1971 a large logging and sawmilling company in New Zealand Auckland Timber Company Building right after its takeover by the Kauri Timber Company in 1888 A wire suspension bridge hosted rails to allow the transfer of goods from the factory to the mill on trollies 1886 birds eye view of Kauri Timber Co KTC was formed in 1888 with a capital of 1 250 000 paid up to 750 000 and its operations were of a very comprehensive nature Besides KTC s headquarters in Melbourne and a branch in Sydney there were sixteen branches in New Zealand where the timber was milled 1 including Hokianga Sawmill Company The forests owned by KTC made it the fifth largest landholding company in the country which removed much of North Island s native forest initially kauri and later kahikatea 2 3 assuring steady supplies for its mills for many years Between 300 and 400 men were engaged in the Auckland mill and factory and throughout the whole of the company s operations in mills stores and forests some 5000 or 6000 people were employed In its extensive export trade the company employed a large fleet of vessels and was represented in the markets of Great Britain Cape Colony Australia and the South Sea Islands 1 The operations of the company expanded to Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands where it merged in 1925 with San Cristoval Estates Ltd to form the Vanikoro Kauri Timber Company 4 The Auckland mill burnt down in 1942 5 and a new yard opened in Penrose in 1944 The 4 storey office at 104 Fanshawe St which had been opened in 1882 by KTC s predecessor Auckland Timber Co and is now a Category 1 listed building was sold to Austral Super Paint Ltd 3 and a single storey office opened in the new yard 6 KTC was hit by the Menzies bloody Credit Squeeze mini budget in 1961 and invited Fletcher Holdings to buy KTC s New Zealand assets First the Christchurch plywood factory Butler Bros Stuart amp Chapman and Ellis amp Burnand were sold on 5 June 1961 for NZ 750 000 A 930 000 though they were said to be worth well in excess of 1 million KTC s other New Zealand assets were sold to Fletcher for 1 6 million later in the year KTC s customers and senior staff were not happy with the takeover causing profitability to drop 7 They were merged into Fletcher Challenge in 1981 8 Kauri Timber Co building in 2019 Kauri Timber Company s timber train at Waipapa laden with logs 1912 Kauri Timber Company was sold to East Asiatic Company in 1971 9 Chatlee mill at Smithton was upgraded home centres were opened in Adelaide and Melbourne and Devonport and Deloraine sawmills were sold to J amp T Gunn Kauri Holdings Ltd was listed on the Victoria Stock Exchange 10 in 1987 11 Premises at Custom Street West Auckland with the Joinery and Box Depart ments at the left and the head office at the right joined by an overhead walkway ca 1906 Balustrades and balusters ca 1906 Gates ca 1906 Trusses ca 1906References edit a b Kauri Timber Company In The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Auckland Provincial District The Cyclopedia Company Limited 1902 Christchurch ATC Building 104 Fanshawe St Auckland www heritage org nz Retrieved 16 June 2019 a b Auckland Timber Company Building Former www heritage org nz Retrieved 21 April 2019 The University of Melbourne Archives Reference Number 1966 0012 KAURI CO FIRE AUCKLAND STAR paperspast natlib govt nz 23 April 1942 Retrieved 11 August 2019 Kauri Timber Company Ltd office Auckland 9097P 1 www fletcherarchives co nz Retrieved 21 April 2019 Goldsmith Paul 2009 Fletchers A Centennial History of Fletcher Building David Ling Publishing pp 170 172 ISBN 978 1 877378 35 5 Carter Graeme February 2019 The enterprising Butler brothers NZ Railway Observer 245 253 Food Ingredients Specialist Kauri NZ About Us History www kaurifood com Retrieved 21 April 2019 Michael Roche John Dargavel and Jenny Mills TRACKING THE KTC FROM KAURI TO KARRI TO CHATLEE PDF p 203 COMPANIES ACQUISITION OF SHARES VICTORIA CODE Section 58 DECLARATION Commonwealth of Australia Gazette General National 1977 1987 3 February 1987 p 354 Retrieved 21 April 2019 External links editNew Zealand Herald Volume XXV Issue 9073 6 June 1888 Kauri Timber Company Freemans Bay Auckland and Massey s Special Constables during the 1913 Waterfront Strike Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kauri Timber Company amp oldid 1218698524, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
