Dunedin boatbuilding premises burnt down

Press, 1 November 1984, Page 14

Dunedin boatbuilding premises burnt down

PA Dunedin The owners of a boatbuilding firm which was razed early on Tuesday have not decided yet if they will rebuild the 62-year-old business. The boatbuilding premises of Miller and Tunnage, Ltd, at Careys Bay near Port Chalmers burnt to the ground and a fishing boat inside was also badly damaged. Port Chalmers volunteer firemen were still damping down hot spots late on Tuesday.

Fire services from Dunedin and Port Chalmers were alerted at about 2.30 a.m. when a container terminal watchkeeper saw the tall wooden building burning. The fishing craft Poytrel, owned by a Timaru partnership, was inside the building and its charred hull was about all that remained above floor height after the fire. The boat was in for a refit. Insurance assessors have yet to decide if it is

One of the company’s two directors, Mr lan Tunnage, said six people worked fulltime at the yard. Miller and Tunnage also provided work for many specialist contractors, such as marine plumbers, electricians and painters. “I cannot say if we will rebuild or not,” he said. “It is just too early to make those sorts of decisions.” Miller and Tunnage began building wooden boats in 1922. Its first premises burnt down in 1941. i/- •