Historical note: The building of the sugar refinery from 1883-84 was a huge enterprise in itself. One hundred and fifty men were employed under the Scots Australian Edwin Muir, who was to be the first general manager, and who had supervised the construction of some of the world's largest refineries. The workmen began with picks and shovels to scoop out the high headland and to level five acres for the refinery buildings. A kiln was built, and one and a half million bricks were moulded from the clay which had been shifted in the excavations, a half million for the construction of two dams, and one million for the four-storeyed buildings.

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections B0061