Punehu
Dates: 1893-1900
Location: 2680 Eltham Road, Taranaki (-39.435870, 173.987330)
Registration No: -
Brand name: CROWN
The Punehu factory was built late 1892 by John D.H. Hurley on land leased from George Thomas on the north-east bank of the Punehu stream. A race and dam to supply power for the cream separator was also built further upstream which had to be replaced after a significant flood in March 1893.
The factory appears to have been quickly taken over by the Crown Dairy Company in 1893 to supply cream to its Pihama butter factory.
The creamery seems to have had various names in the Annual List of Dairy Factories, appearing as Punehu in 1893, Awatuna in 1896, 1897 and 1898 and Eltham Road in 1899 and 1900.
Appears to have closed down in 1900 possibly due to competition from nearby factories and creameries.
Managers included:
W Ellis - 1894
Rendall - 1897