The 1880's

An old photograph of the port taken in that year shows the old Customhouse Hotel as well as the little wooden building where the Anchor Company's office now stands. This was the office of the Union Steam Ship Company where Thomas Cawthron then served as Nelson agent until his retirement in 1884. Away to the right (alongside the railway line) is a small rectangled building which served at that time as a railway goods shed. This later became the Fruit Inspection Shed and served in that capacity for many years until the Apple and Pear Board's present cool store area on the reclamation was established. This building is nearly 100 years old, the oldest owned by the Harbour Board, and may shortly be demolished. If you have a look today, on the north-eastern side of the building, you can still see a bollard on one corner. Also in that picture is a small hexagonal building which served as the pilot station, about where the No. 3 cargo shed now stands.