Eltham, New Zealand

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Eltham is a small town in southern Taranaki, New Zealand with a population of around 2100 people. It is located 50 km south of the city of New Plymouth, and is to the southeast of the volcanic cone of Mount Taranaki (Egmont). 20 km south is the town of Hawera and the coastline.

Eltham's historical claims to fame are twofold:

being the cradle of the Taranaki dairy industry (and the co-operative system in particular), and

as being the one place in New Zealand that manufactured rennin (marketed as rennet): essential for the manufacture of cheese.^[1].

Settlement began in Eltham in the 1870s with blocks of land being taken up mainly to the north of Mountain Road. This land was originally covered with dense forest, and the site of Eltham was cleared by a profusion of sawmilling companies operating in the district. Once grass seed had been sown, the surrounding land was soon found to be ideal for dairy farming.^[2] In 1884, the year Eltham was declared a town district, settlers, mainly from England, arrived there and the town had a thriving population of 25 people. Eltham was declared a borough in 1901, and became part of South Taranaki District with the local body amalgamations of 1989.

[edit] Industry

The town's main industry is cheese production, with many of Mainland Cheese's specialty range (such as feta and camembert) being produced on site at the Bridge Street factory.

Other cheese products (such as the processed cheese used in McDonald's burgers) are produced on the company's Collingwood Street site. This site was formerly occupied by the Taranaki Co-operative Dairy Company's milk powder plant, and it has since been extensively remodelled in its new incarnation.^[3]

Cheese has been used as a central symbol of the town, and to reinforce this view, the town's water supply tank was painted to represent a large block of cheese in 2002.

Eltham's other significant industry is the Riverlands (formerly J. C. Hutton's) freezing works, which has a satellite plant in Bulls, in Manawatu. Both plants can process up to 1250 head of cattle daily.

These industries bring revenue into this small town, and are also important locally and provincially.

[edit] Famous people

The historian/classicist Ronald Syme (1903-1989) ^[4] architect Amyas Connell (1901-1980), and All Blacks Brian "Jazz" Muller (1942- )^[5] Bryce Robins (1958- )^[6], and Roger Urbahn (1934-1984) ^[7] are perhaps Eltham's best-known sons. Eltham was also home to Chau Tseung ^[8] (or Chew Chong (1827-1844?-1920)), the founder of the factory system of butter manufacture in the late 1880s.^[9]

[edit] A famous first for Eltham

High Street (which runs through the centre of town - as part of State Highway 3 connecting Stratford, Ngaere, Normanby and Hawera) and Bridge Street (which heads westward towards Kaponga and joins State Highway 45 near Opunake), were the first tar-sealed roads in New Zealand.^[10].

[edit] Scenic attractions

Eltham is also the gateway to Lake Rotokare, a scenic, natural lake surrounded by native bush (to the east of the town), and to the man-made Lake Rotorangi.

[edit] Eltham's rivers

The two main watercourses which run through Eltham itself are the Mangawharawhara Stream, and the Waingongoro River.

The Mangawharawhara Stream runs to the east of the Main Trunk railway line, flows under the central business district via a culvert, and on past Eltham School and the Eltham Golf Club to the south of the town.

The Waingongoro River forms a western boundary to the town itself, flowing through the Presbyterian Church campsite (in the town's northwest) and Taumata Park (the town's main camping area and sports ground - in the western part of the town) and winding itself southwestward to meet the Tasman Sea at Ohawe Beach, near Hawera.^[11]

[edit] Local administration

Eltham and the surrounding community enjoys a full library and council service (coming under the aegis of the South Taranaki District Council, based in Hawera). The Eltham Library Plus is open 8.30 - 5.30 Monday to Friday.

[edit] For more information

For more information on the history of the town, the Eltham & Districts Historical Society is located on the corner of Bridge and York Street (in the former Westpac building). The society has both historical and current information, including documents and photographs of Eltham and the surrounding area.

[edit] References

^ See The New Zealand Co-operative Rennet Company Limited, Eltham, 50th jubilee, 1916-1966, Hawera, [N.Z.]: n.p., 1966
^ See 'ELTHAM.' From An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, updated 18-Sep-2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
^ The Taranaki Co-operative Dairy Company was formed in 1965 - with the merger of the Cardiff, Eltham, Normanby, and Stratford dairy co-operatives. The Eltham plant was opened for the 1965-66 season. Some of the records of this company (from 1950-1983) are held at the Dairy Records Archive, Massey University Library., and a summary of that holding may be seen at Taranaki Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd. (B795). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
^ Bruce, David. 'Ronald Syme: Taranaki's Forgotten Son.'. Retrieved on 2007-12-31. This brief biographical article originally appeared in the Taranaki Daily News on 14 June 2003: in the centennial year of his birth.
^ Knight, Lindsay. 'Jazz Muller.'. Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
^ Knight, Lindsay. 'Bryce Robins.'. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
^ Luxford, Bob. 'Roger Urbahn.'. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
^ Roth, Herbert Otto. 'CHONG, Chew.' From An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, updated 18-Sep-2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-30. Roth notes that the establishment of the Eltham Co-operative Dairy Company in 1892 marked the "beginning of the end" for Chew Chong's pioneering dairy empire: because the co-operative could afford to pay its suppliers better. Also see the co-operative's jubilee history noted under Business History in the "Further Reading" section."
^ Ng, James. 'Chew Chong 1827-1844? - 1920.' Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22 June 2007.. Retrieved on 2007-12-30.
^ See the books of Henry Andrews: Andrews, Henry J. (1959), The history of Eltham, New Zealand: cradle of the dairy export industry, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham Borough Council and Russell Standish: Standish, Russell (1984), Eltham: one hundred years, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham District Centennial Committee
^ Roth, Herbert Otto. 'CHONG, Chew.' From An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, updated 18-Sep-2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-30. Roth notes that it was on the banks of this river that Chew Chong set up his "Jubilee" factory in 1887.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] General historical works

Eltham and district centennial, 1884-1984, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Newspapers Ltd., 1984
Eltham and districts, then and now, a millennium project, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Eltham and Districts Historical Society, 2000, ISBN 09-0890436-3
Eltham centennial supplement, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Stratford Press, 1984
Eltham County, Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Historic Places Trust, 1982
Eltham heritage inventory, Hawera, [N.Z.]: South Taranaki District Council, 2003
Eltham, Taranaki, New Zealand, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Worthington's Book Centre, 197?
Historic Eltham: a town of firsts, Hawera, [N.Z.]: South Taranaki District Council, 2002
Souvenir programme: Eltham jubilee carnival, 13th-19th May 1934, Eltham, [N.Z.]: n.p., 1934
This is Eltham: souvenir programme: jubilee celebrations, March 7th-14th 1959, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Publicity Committee of the Eltham Jubilee Executive Committee / Eltham Argus, 1959
Andrews, Henry J. (1959), The history of Eltham, New Zealand: cradle of the dairy export industry, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham Borough Council
Ellis, J. T. (1923), Views of Eltham, Taranaki, New Zealand, 1923, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: J. T. Ellis
Standish, Russell (1984), Eltham: one hundred years, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham District Centennial Committee

[edit] Business history

Some of Eltham's banking history is publicly accessible, but none of it is held in Taranaki.

The history of the ANZ bank is held in the ANZ National Bank Ltd. Archives in Wellington. For a summary of the type of records held, see ANZ Bank (New Zealand) Ltd. (X295). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
There are duplicate sets of records for the Eltham branch of the Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac). The first is held in the J.C.Beaglehole Room, Victoria University of Wellington Library.. A summary of this holding, and of the second one (held at the Westpac Archive, P.O. Box 691, Wellington) can be found at Bank of New South Wales (Y3515). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.

Eltham Co-operative Dairy Company jubilee, 1892-1942, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham Argus, 1942

The records of the New Plymouth Sash and Door Factory and Timber Company (which had a branch in Eltham) can be found at Puke Ariki.. A summary of this holding may be seen at New Plymouth Sash and Door Factory and Timber Company (C148). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.

The New Zealand Co-operative Rennet Company Limited, Eltham, 50th jubilee, 1916-1966, Hawera, [N.Z.]: n.p., 1966

Drabble, Don (1996), The life and times of Chew Chong, Eltham, [N.Z.]: D. A. Drabble, ISBN 0-473-04035-2

Those without access to Drabble's book might like to read the following article (which also includes an interview with Don Drabble):- Winder, Virginia. Chong Plays Leading Role in Dairy Industry. and/or look at a map of Chong's various Taranaki business interests: Location of Chong's Taranaki businesses. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.

Standish, Russell (2007), Pioneer traders of Taranaki, Tauranga, [N.Z.]: Russell Standish, ISBN 9780473117177

The above-mentioned book by Standish is a biography of prominent Eltham businessman and parliamentarian, Charles Anderson (C.A.) Wilkinson. Wilkinson began his commercial career by managing the Eltham store of Chew Chong. For brief biographical essays, see the following: Ralston, Bruce. 'Wilkinson, Charles Anderson, 1868-1956.' Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22-Jun-2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.; and Winder, Virginia. Charles Wilkinson Known as Father of Eltham. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.

[edit] Churches

[edit] Anglican

Parish of All Saints' Church, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Parish of All Saints' Church, 1956
Carncross, Claude (1953), A short history of the Parish of All Saints: Eltham, N.Z., Eltham, [N.Z.]: All Saints' Vestry
Davies, Elizabeth (1996), All Saints' Anglican Church centennial, 1996, Eltham, [N.Z.]: The Church, ISBN 0-908-90423-1

[edit] Catholic

Crafar, Alison (1998), History of St. Joseph's Eltham Parish and School, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Stratford Press & Printing Ltd. on behalf of the St. Joseph's Eltham Centenary Committee, ISBN 0-908-90430-4

[edit] Methodist

Robinson, Alison (1990), Eltham: Methodist Presbyterian: 100 years of witness, Eltham, [N.Z.]: I. & G. Selby, ISBN 0-473-00991-9
Surrey, A.K. (1964), A short history of the Methodist Church in Eltham N.Z., Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham Argus

[edit] Presbyterian

Allen, R. H. et al. (1951), Knox Presbyterian Church, Eltham: 50th jubilee souvenir record, 1901-1951, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Session of Knox Church / Eltham Argus
Robinson, Alison (1990), Eltham: Methodist Presbyterian: 100 years of witness, Eltham, [N.Z.]: I.& G. Selby, ISBN 0-473-00991-9

[edit] Salvation Army

McGrath, A. L. & Wilson, Howard (1993), The "inside" story: the Mercy Jenkins Salvation Army Boys' Home, Eltham, 28th December 1909 - 26th January 1954, Eltham, [N.Z.]: A. L. McGrath
Robinson, Alison (1993), The Salvation Army in Stratford and Eltham, 1893-1993: including the Mercy Boys' Home & the Mercy Jenkins Eventide Home, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Salvation Army, Stratford / Eltham Corps, ISBN 0-473-01940-X

Records of the Salvation Army in Eltham are held at the Salvation Army Territorial Archives and Museum. The extent of the archive's holdings may be seen at Salvation Army Territorial Archives (X1102). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.

[edit] Clubs and organisations

A collection of records for the League of Mothers is kept at Puke Ariki. A summary of this holding may be seen at League of Mothers Taranaki Province Branches (W216). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.

Eltham & District Highland Pipe Band 50th jubilee, 1919-1969: souvenir booklet, 15th March 1969, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham Argus, 1969
Eltham Horticultural Society golden jubilee, 1921-1971, Eltham, [N.Z.]: The Society, 1971
Christian, Karen (ed.) (2003), The Eltham Town Hall: memories of a community treasure, Eltham, [N.Z.]: K. Christian, ISBN 0-908-90443-6
Everest, Frank (1994), "The days of savagery": a history of the Eltham Savage Club, 1945-1994, Eltham, [N.Z.]: The Club
Mackay, Max S. (2002), One hundred years of service: the story of the first hundred years of the Eltham Volunteer Fire Brigade, 1902-2002, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham Volunteer Fire Brigade, ISBN 0-908-90441-X
Perry, Clive (1992), History of St. John's Lodge no. 95: the brethren, Eltham, [N.Z.]: The Lodge
Urbahn, Joy (ed.) (1988), Eltham Rugby Football Club centennial, 1888-1988, Eltham, [N.Z.]: The Club

[edit] Maps

New Zealand Department of Lands & Survey (1981), Map of Hawera, Manaia, Opunake, Stratford, Eltham, Patea, Waverley, (2nd ed.), Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Department of Lands & Survey

NOTE: Scale: 1:15 000 - this is a series of eight maps on one page.

New Zealand Department of Lands & Survey (1984), Street map of Hawera, Manaia, Opunake, Stratford, Waverley, Eltham, Patea, (3rd ed.), Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Department of Lands & Survey

NOTE: Scale: 1:15 000 - this is a series of eight maps on one page.

[edit] Schools

A set of records pertaining to the formation of Eltham Kindergarten (more particularly its Committee, in 1956) is held by Puke Ariki. in New Plymouth. A summary of this holding may be seen at Eltham Kindergarten (X2992). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.

Carncross, Claude (1961), Eltham Public School, 1886-1961: souvenir booklet, 75th jubilee, Easter 1961, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham Public School Jubilee Committee / Eltham Argus
Crafar, Alison (1986), Eltham Public School 100 years, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham Public School Centennial Committee
Crafar, Alison (1998), History of St. Joseph's Eltham Parish and School, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Stratford Press & Printing Ltd. on behalf of the St. Joseph's Eltham Centenary Committee, ISBN 0-908-90430-4

Coordinates: 39°26′S, 174°18′E

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