Introduction

Imagine a time when life was so certain that when you built a building for your business you were confident enough in the future that you put the name of the business into the very fabric of the building.

This is not a time of mergers and takeovers of globalisation and restructure, this is when life was more local and certain.

There are a number of such buildings around and so this blog is an attempt to record some of them and more importantly a bit of the history of the business which by and large are no longer with us.

If you know something about any of these business please add a comment. You can do this without having to sign up for anything and can be anonomous if you prefer.



Monday, August 16, 2010

Spencer and Dunkley

This is 68 Vogel St

Spencer & Dunkley and were general cartage agents who also provided  storage it would seem.
The firm lives on in some ways as it is part of Owens Transport via amalagamation in the 1980 with Brambles Burnett Limited which had previously absobed Spencer & Dunkley.

While we tend to think of cartage in terms of trucks here is a great picture of the Horse Team from Spencer & Dunkley http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/100-years-ago/76362/st-helens-maternity-hospital-celebrates-4-years

The firm was also providing freight forwarding services via the Union Steam Ship Company who's offices are further down the street.

7 comments:

  1. They were the Dunedin Agents and shareholder of the National Freight Forwarder Sea Cargo Ltd when Roll on/Roll off shipping commenced on the NZ Coast in 1967. Colin Barkman was the Dunedin contact and Clive Bennett (Auckland based) the Sales Manager for Sea Cargo Ltd

    ReplyDelete
  2. Clive Bennett email contact - combatm@ihug.co.nz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Afternoon Clive,
      I stumbled across your reply to a comment that was made about Spencer and Dunkley, on Cast in Stone, a forum website. I have been doing a lot of research on Brambles Burnett and their associated companies, both in New Zealand and Australia.

      What I am after, is original, or copies of, any newspaper clippings, company papers, photo's etc, for an upcoming book. If you have, or know of anybody that could help, could you please let me know.


      Regards
      Drew McClenaghan

      Delete
  3. The Director of Spencer & Dunkley was Jock Kirkwood a hard working friendly 'hands on' businessman.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Bruce Tomlinson here. My father worked for Spencer and Dunkley. At the time this photo was taken he would have been 40.Is there any way we could find who is in this photo,I am trying to gather info for family history Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Clive Bennett new email is now clivebennett9@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Spencer & Dunkley Dunedin - An historic overview.
    In 1885 James Halliday Spencer was a co-founder of general cartage agents Spencer & Dunkley Ltd.
    Years later c1970s it merged with Dunedin company Crust & Crust {NZ Carrying Co} plus Gain Forwarding {also Dunedin} into Spencer Crust Gain Ltd and known as SCG Transport.
    SCG was acquired by the Australian based and public listed company Brambles Burnett in 1972.
    In 1980 NZ owned logistics and international freight operator Mogal Corporation launched a successful takeover for Brambles Burnett.
    Time progressed and in 1990 Mogal was bought by the Owens Group - Owens was originally founded by Sir Robert {Bob} Owens in 1953.
    The trucks kept rolling and in 2003 Owens were purchased by Mainfreight and operate as a logistics division providing transport services.
    Spencer & Dunkley today {2022} a name lost in time but with a heritage winding back one hundred and thirty-seven years!
    By Clive Bennett {E&OE} - Foundation employee of Mogal & General Manager Marketing Owens Corporation.

    ReplyDelete