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Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company
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TitleEllesmere Bacon Curing Company
DescriptionOn 31st May, 1877 a public meeting in the Leeston Town Hall was held about the formation of the Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company. The chair, Mr W. J. G. Bluett noted that a bacon curing factory had just been established near Southbridge, but in his opinion the correct location had not been chosen: one was required to be located centrally in the district. Mr. John McLachlan moved that a second bacon curing company be established, given that there was opportunity for export, a monopoly on bacon production was to be avoided, as well as the fact that Ellesmere was one of the main bacon-producing localities in New Zealand. Mr. A McLachlan seconded this motion. Like the Southbridge factory, it was funded by shares in a co-operative arrangement.
A factory on a 5-acre site opposite the Doyleston Railway Station on Railway Terrace, with buildings for bacon production was established at Doyleston, managed by Mr. H. Gilchrist. A slaughterhouse licence was granted in May 1878. By April 1879, because payments of many of the pledged shares had not materialised, the company was forced to consider not buying pigs for the forthcoming season. On 5 December, 1879, an Annual General Meeting was held at the Springs Hotel in Leeston, advertised to wind the company up.
Later that month, the premises were advertised as being for sale, by public auction at the Doyleston Hotel. On 1 June 1880, the Press newspaper advertised that the Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company was to be wound up voluntarily, and meeting of shareholders was held on 12 July to enact this. By September 1890, the buildings were put up for public tender. In May 1890, the Belfast Refrigeration Company offered to support the local pig farmers by processing their bacon.
The fortunes of this company mirrored that of the rival Southbridge Bacon Curing Company, which opened and closed in a smilar period.
DescriptionOn 31st May, 1877 a public meeting in the Leeston Town Hall was held about the formation of the Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company. The chair, Mr W. J. G. Bluett noted that a bacon curing factory had just been established near Southbridge, but in his opinion the correct location had not been chosen: one was required to be located centrally in the district. Mr. John McLachlan moved that a second bacon curing company be established, given that there was opportunity for export, a monopoly on bacon production was to be avoided, as well as the fact that Ellesmere was one of the main bacon-producing localities in New Zealand. Mr. A McLachlan seconded this motion. Like the Southbridge factory, it was funded by shares in a co-operative arrangement.A factory on a 5-acre site opposite the Doyleston Railway Station on Railway Terrace, with buildings for bacon production was established at Doyleston, managed by Mr. H. Gilchrist. A slaughterhouse licence was granted in May 1878. By April 1879, because payments of many of the pledged shares had not materialised, the company was forced to consider not buying pigs for the forthcoming season. On 5 December, 1879, an Annual General Meeting was held at the Springs Hotel in Leeston, advertised to wind the company up.
Later that month, the premises were advertised as being for sale, by public auction at the Doyleston Hotel. On 1 June 1880, the Press newspaper advertised that the Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company was to be wound up voluntarily, and meeting of shareholders was held on 12 July to enact this. By September 1890, the buildings were put up for public tender. In May 1890, the Belfast Refrigeration Company offered to support the local pig farmers by processing their bacon.
The fortunes of this company mirrored that of the rival Southbridge Bacon Curing Company, which opened and closed in a smilar period.
Connections
CollectionRetail Businesses in EllesmerePlaceDoylestonImageSouthbridge Bacon Curing CompanyMore InformationRead about the June 1877 public meeting to establish the Ellesmere Bacon Curing CompanyThe Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company is advertised as about to be wound up in December 1879Read about the 1880 public auction of the Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company factory siteRead about the July 1880 meeting in which the Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company was wound up
PlaceDoylestonImageSouthbridge Bacon Curing CompanyMore InformationRead about the June 1877 public meeting to establish the Ellesmere Bacon Curing CompanyThe Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company is advertised as about to be wound up in December 1879Read about the 1880 public auction of the Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company factory siteRead about the July 1880 meeting in which the Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company was wound upAttribution
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Ellesmere Bacon Curing Company. Selwyn Stories, accessed 07/03/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6608
