RURAL BUILDINGS
Page 40
Old dairy factory now a restaurant Forta Leza Restaurant proudly displays its dairying heritage in the external architecture of the building and the sign on the façade, which reads ‘Kati Kati Co-Op Dairy Company Ltd’. Today the former factory, built in 1902, is a restaurant owned and operated by the Belcher family who bought it in 1979. Rob and Norma Belcher, with the help of her son Haydn and wife Mary, brought it back from a rundown business to an establishment which is today popular with locals and tourists. They also honour the building’s 112-year history, with the story of its past on display in the restaurant.
That history begins in 1902, with Katikati’s Ulster settlers’ growing dairy industry. Mervyn Stewart of Athenree, son of settlers Hugh and Adela, was a driving force behind the building of a dairy factory near the Waitekohe Stream. It began as a small wooden building, which expanded as the number of suppliers and production increased. A house was built for the factory manager in 1923 and a herd-testing service began for farmers. The company store was also added at this time to provide a single location for all trading operations. Production was so great that in 1925, a tender for a new electric factory at £1825 was accepted. In the five years between 1922 and 1927, the factory doubled its output.
The company continued to grow slowly in spite of restrictions imposed by Word War II and competition from other companies. In 1947 a new casein plant was established on the southern outskirts of Katikati. The company considered further diversification into milk powders and added a powder plant to the casein factory in 1953. In 1954 at an extraordinary general meeting, the company decided to move all operations to the casein plant site and called for tenders to build a new factory in 1957. The old factory closed and finally in 1960 the factory store was moved into a new
building at the township site. It was Gary Rand who rescued the neglected cheese and butter factory in the early 1970s and armed with a chainsaw and basic tools, converted it into a restaurant and country inn. It was his vision and skills which created the distinctly old English and Spanish style interior, complete with exposed rough timber, stucco, archway fireplaces and arched windows. For more information, visit: www.fortaleza.co.nz (History from Western Bay of Plenty District Council publication ‘Built Heritage’).
The former Kati Kati Co-Op Dairy Company Ltd is today the Forta Leza Restaurant.
Matamata builder region’s top apprentice Matamata carpentry apprentice Matthew Frost has been named the Waikato Bay of Plenty Registered Master Builders Carters 2014 Apprentice of the Year. The 22-year-old, employed by Gudsell Designer Homes in Matamata and trained through the BCITO, impressed judges, who say he’s an engaging apprentice with a well-rounded, solid skillset. “It was evident from the start that Matthew is an apprentice with real ability to run a building site and have control over all facets of the build. All questions asked of him received answers that clearly demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of his industry,” say the judges. “Matthew is well-liked by
his peers and the judges recognised his commitment to the trade.” As well as the sought-after regional title, Matthew was awarded an array of prizes, including his choice of either a study grant worth $2,000 or $2000 to spend at Carters and a place at an Outward Bound Leadership Programme. Second place in the Waikato Bay of Plenty Region was awarded to Hayden Gamble, 22, of Hamilton, employed by Mark Inia Building in Te Awamutu. Third place went to Jesse Boreham, 22, of Hamilton, employed by Livingstone Building. RMBA acting chief executive Brendon Ward says it’s gratifying to see a strong group of contenders putting themselves forward to be Apprentice of the Year Matthew Frost judged against their peers at and his employer Matt Gudsell, of this year’s Apprentice of the Gudsell Designer Homes. Year competition.
WE’VE GOT SHEDS FOR EVERY FARM ASk in-STORE FOR YOuR cOMpETiTiVE quOTE Placemakers Pukekohe: Placemakers Thames: Placemakers morrinsville: Placemakers Te kuiTi: Placemakers Te raPa: Placemakers hamilTon: Placemakers roTorua: Placemakers hunTly: Placemakers WhiTianga: Placemakers mT maunganui: Placemakers WhakaTane: Placemakers TauPo:
Garry Cox Paul Kerr Les Gratten Gavin Todd Sian McIntosh Steve Kinsey Carl Sanford Tony Welch Gary Sohier Damien Hermond Shannon Collier Matt Harvey
garry.cox@placemakers.co.nz paul.kerr@placemakers.co.nz les.gratten@placemakers.co.nz gavin.todd@placemakers.co.nz sian.mcintosh@placemakers.co.nz steve.kinsey@placemakers.co.nz carl.sanford@placemakers.co.nz tony.welch@placemakers.co.nz gary.sohier@placemakers.co.nz damien.hermond@placemakers.co.nz shannon.collier@placemakers.co.nz matt.harvey@placemakers.co.nz
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