Patea Freezing Works facts for kids
The Patea Freezing Works was a large factory in the town of Patea, New Zealand. It was a place where animals were processed to produce meat. This factory was very important for the town, providing many jobs for local people for a long time.
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How It Started
The idea for the Patea Freezing Works came from the Patea A&P Association. In August 1883, a company called the West Coast Meat and Produce Export Company was formed. This company first made canned meat and tallow, which is a type of animal fat.
Over time, technology changed. Instead of canning meat, freezing became the new way to preserve it. So, in 1904, the company switched from canning to freezing.
The Freezing Company's History
The Patea Freezing Company officially started in 1910. Later, in 1933, a new Patea Freezing Company was created. This new company grew very big. During its busiest times, it employed almost 1,000 workers! This made it a huge part of the local economy.
However, in the early 1980s, the meat-processing industry in New Zealand faced tough times. Many factories struggled. The Patea Freezing Works was one of the first to close down. It stopped operating in September 1982. At that time, the factory was owned by a British company called the Vestey Group.
What Happened After Closure
After the factory closed, the site was left empty and became run-down. It was considered a health risk by local people. Its large, abandoned buildings were easily seen from the main highway. Many residents felt that this "eyesore" made the area look bad and even lowered the value of nearby homes.
Norm McKay, a former mayor of Patea, worked at the factory for 29 years. He said, "The works has been a thorn in everyone's side for 25 years. This eyesore is our identity, it's Taranaki's eastern gateway and it's absolutely shocking what's been allowed to happen there."
The site was also dangerous. It had lots of Asbestos, which is a harmful material, along with chemicals, heavy metals, and rusting fuel tanks. Many buildings were collapsing.
Fire and Demolition
On Wednesday, February 6, 2008, a large fire broke out at the Patea Freezing Works. A big part of the old factory was destroyed.
In August 2009, a company called Nikau Contractors was chosen to demolish and clear the entire site. They were picked from eight different companies that wanted the job.
One of the most noticeable parts of the factory was its tall chimney. This chimney was not the original one, but it was a landmark. Some local groups and the mayor of South Taranaki, Ross Dunlop, wanted to save the chimney as a monument. However, there was no money set aside for this in the cleanup budget. Saving it would have meant local taxpayers would have to pay for it. So, the chimney was toppled on February 19, 2010.
You can find a video of the chimney being toppled on YouTube.
The demolition work was finished in the middle of 2010, clearing the site completely.
