Chelsea Sugar Refinery and Estate

The Chelsea Sugar Refinery features red brick buildings and a 37-meter-tall Char House situated along the northern shore of Waitemata Harbour.

The refinery began operations in 1884 after Edward Knox purchased 76 hectares of land to establish New Zealand's first sugar processing facility.

The facility shaped the development of Birkenhead by creating jobs and attracting workers who established communities around the industrial complex.

The refinery processes over 200,000 tonnes of raw sugar annually, with approximately 20 percent of production exported to Australian markets.

Workers used 1.5 million bricks manufactured from clay excavated on-site to construct the original buildings that remain operational today.

Location: Auckland Region

Inception: 1884

Address: 57, 60, 95, 100 Colonial Road, 22 Langstone Place, 60, 69 Rawene Road, 93 Onetaunga Road, Birkenhead, Auckland

Website: http://chelsea.co.nz

GPS coordinates: -36.82120,174.72330

Latest update: May 22, 2025 14:31