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Industry and Commerce in Ellesmere
Description
NameIndustry and Commerce
DescriptionWelcome to the collection of stories around the industry and commerce of Ellesmere, through the heritage panel at the tuna (eel) sculpture at Leeston.
Ellesmere’s growing agricultural prominence from the 1860s meant that early colonial businesses were focused primarily on farm-related products and services such as blacksmiths, wheelwrights, saddlers, engineers, flax and flour mills, creameries, well-drilling, transport, and amenities for the growing network of rural villages. Several of these had general stores and post offices, in addition to hotels and coaching services.
Southbridge, Leeston, Doyleston and Dunsandel became hubs for local industry and commerce from the mid-1800s, with Leeston emerging as the largest township by the 1900s. It developed a range of extra businesses, including a department store owned by the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association which was also a grain and seed merchant and a stock agent. Electricity was managed by the Springs-Ellesmere Power Board in Leeston.
Ellesmere remained focused on servicing the farming and export industry with prominent motor and transport companies, honey producers and vegetable growers alongside butcheries, grocers, bakers and banks. More recently, local food production has extended to venison processing, ice-cream manufacture, a dairy factory and a salmon hatchery.Date2024
DescriptionWelcome to the collection of stories around the industry and commerce of Ellesmere, through the heritage panel at the tuna (eel) sculpture at Leeston.Ellesmere’s growing agricultural prominence from the 1860s meant that early colonial businesses were focused primarily on farm-related products and services such as blacksmiths, wheelwrights, saddlers, engineers, flax and flour mills, creameries, well-drilling, transport, and amenities for the growing network of rural villages. Several of these had general stores and post offices, in addition to hotels and coaching services.
Southbridge, Leeston, Doyleston and Dunsandel became hubs for local industry and commerce from the mid-1800s, with Leeston emerging as the largest township by the 1900s. It developed a range of extra businesses, including a department store owned by the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association which was also a grain and seed merchant and a stock agent. Electricity was managed by the Springs-Ellesmere Power Board in Leeston.
Ellesmere remained focused on servicing the farming and export industry with prominent motor and transport companies, honey producers and vegetable growers alongside butcheries, grocers, bakers and banks. More recently, local food production has extended to venison processing, ice-cream manufacture, a dairy factory and a salmon hatchery.
Date2024Collection
Connections
CollectionTuna (Eel) Sculpture, LeestonOrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyAttribution
Industry and Commerce in Ellesmere (2024). Selwyn Stories, accessed 07/03/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6189
