From humble beginnings

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 23

From humble beginnings

The business was founded in 1854 when Mrs David Clarkson, a milliner from Dunstable, Bedfordshire, sent to England for two cases of straw hats and sold them from her cottage in Cashel Street.

Successful in that venture, she ordered some general drapery lines and soon business out-grew the house. Her husband built a small gabled shop on the street and later added a two-storeyed wooden

building alongside. In 1864, Mr William Pratt bought the business and during his ownership replaced the original buildings with a larger brick building. He sold the business to Mr John Ballantyne in 1872, but retained the freehold of the premises for many years.

John Ballantyne, a member of an old Border family, was born at Selkirk, Scotland, in 1825 and, although trained for the drapery trade, had his heart fixed on farming. Emigrating to Australia, he eventually set up in business there but after a visit to New Zealand decided to settle here.

After seven years .in Dunstable House, he disposed of his interest in the firm and followed his desire for farming, which he carried out with great success in South Canterbury.

From 1879, the business was continued by five partners, including John’s son, Mr Josiah Ballantyne. Two younger sons, Mr Thorne and Mr William later joined their brother to take over the partnership. In 1920, the firm was incorporated as a private limited company. "

Between 1885 and 1894 a three-storey block on Cashel Street was built, although Ballantynes did not occupy the comer block until some time later.

In 1947, a disastrous fire destroyed almost all the premises and a temporary one-storey building replaced it for some years. The modern building, designed by Warren and Mahoney, was built in stages from 1959 to 1977.

Today, third, fourth and fifth generation descendants of John Ballantyne are involved in the company.