OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 23178, 20 April 1937, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR JOSEPH AMBURY (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 19. One of the founders of the dairy produce export business in New Zealand, Mr Joseph Ambury, died at his residence, Epsom. Mr Ambury, who was a son of an English farmer, came to New Zealand in 1884 and farmed at Mangere and Remuera. With his brother he started a small dairy business in Newton in 1885, supplying several milk rounds.

A year later the firm of Ambury’s, Limited was founded. This business grew and they commenced the manufacture of butter, and for many years, supplied butter and milk to the Union Steam Ship Company, at the same time shipping butter to the South Sea Islands. The first creamery erected in New Zealand was built at Mangere by Mr Joseph Ambury in 1886. The business was later extended to the Waikato, where Mr Ambury eventually built 20 creameries in various parts of the district, with the main factory at Frankton. Some years later these plants were sold to the New Zealand Dairy Association. In 1889 the firm shipped the first ton of factory butter to England from Auckland, the shipment creating considerable interest in England. Although in his 90th year Mr Ambury was active and alert.