The Chelsea Archives are a collection of records from the Chelsea Sugar refinery (now New Zealand Sugar Company Ltd) dating back to the late 19th century. The Chelsea Sugar Company in its prime was one of the largest companies in the southern hemisphere. The collection includes:

• Auckland Share Register (1916-)

• Correspondence between Australian (Sydney, Melbourne) and New Zealand branches, 1947-48

• Legal Files

• List of employees (1884-1930)

• Newsletters

• Telegrams

• Wage books.

The collection is not indexed on the catalogue and is reference only. It is housed in a purpose-built room at Birkenhead Library and is for viewing by appointment only. If you wish to visit the collection, please contact Paul Croxson, the Local History Librarian at Birkenhead Library.

Background

New Zealand Sugar Company contacted Records Management Ltd in June 1986, requesting some assistance with the archives stored in the basement in their Head Office, Fort Street. As the company’s Head Office was moving to the Chelsea refinery within the month, there was not much time to deal with the large amount of archival material.

The records consist of all the documents that were found in the basement of the Fort Street site, as well as material found at the refinery after the Head Office moved there. The archives are a collection of records from CSR Limited, Australia (formerly Colonial Sugar Refinery). CSR Australia is the majority shareholder of NZ Sugar.

The collection includes photocopies of correspondence and price lists that were sent from Australia . The originals are held in The Noel Butlin Archives Centre (part of the Australian National University , Archives Programme). Information Service.