It is a sad anniversary today – 45 years ago the Wahine sunk off Wellington with the loss of 51 lives.
Find out more:
This brewery dates from the early days of Christchurch. Previous to 1875 it was an unpretentious concern, but in that year the late Mr W. White took over the business and formed it into a company known as the Crown Brewery Company. In the following year Messrs Louisson Bros. purchased a large number of shares, and ultimately acquired all the remaining interests in the company; and since then its history has been one of continued prosperity and expansion. From a very small beginning, with an output of a few hogsheads per week for local consumption, its extension under the able management of the Messrs Louisson Bros. since their acquisition of the property has been great, and it now ranks as one of the leading businesses, with a very large output, and a connection extending all over New Zealand. The plant, which is considered one of the best and most up-to-date in the colony, was erected without regard to cost, and is capable of working up to fifty hogsheads per day. Only the best and purest ingredients are used in the manufacture. The hops are obtained from Nelson and the barley from Canterbury; of the latter 30,000 bushels are annually used by the firm, and this consumption materially adds to the activity of the farming industry. The cellars, of which there are several, are very spacious, and have a stowage capacity of over 2500 hogsheads.
The Crown Brewery, The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District] 1903, NZETC
Burke’s manuscript – a bit on breweries.
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We have digitised a rather splendid 1902 publication Tourists’ guide to Canterbury.
I will share some of the interesting ads and pictures from it in a series of posts – there’s lots of information about local businesses and places in 1902.
Christchurch City Libraries Blog 