Haywrights

Haywrights was a New Zealand department store chain that was founded in 1929 and eventually grew to be one of the largest department store chains in New Zealand.[1]

Haywrights Ltd.
Haywrights
IndustryRetail
GenreDepartment stores
Predecessor
  • Hays
  • Wright-Stephenson
Founded13 December 1929
FounderJames Hay
Defunct1982
FateMerged with Farmers Co-op then sold to FTC.
SuccessorFarmers Trading Company
HeadquartersChristchurch
Area served
New Zealand

History

The store opened on 13 December 1929 as Hay's. It was founded by businessman and philanthropist James Hay.[2]

In 1968, the chain merged with Wright Stephenson (retail arm) to form Hay's-Wright Stephenson, with this the chain expanded into the North Island.[2][3] On 1 August 1970 Hay's-Wright Stephenson became Haywrights after much confusion among customers about the name.[3]

In January 1976 Haywrights purchased the Milne & Choyce chain, in an effort to expand further into the North Island. 30–40 employees were laid off at the Mount Roskill Warehouse and at the Downtown Shopping Centre store[4]

In 1980 Haywrights merged with the Farmers Co-operative Association and rebranded to Farmers-Haywrights.[5] Then in 1982 Bunting & Co. acquired the Co-operative Association and sold the remaining assets to the Farmers Trading Company for $12 Million, of the remaining 18 branches FTC bought 13 and a distribution centre in Christchurch, with this all stores were rebranded to Farmers.[5]

Stores
Location About Opening Closing
South Island Locations
Gloucester Street, Christchurch Flagship location of the brand, opened in 1929 as Hay's and operated until 1982 when it was rebranded as a Farmers, the building was torn down in 1997 and Farmers operated on the site until the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the Te Pae: Christchurch Convention Centre now sits on the site.[1][6][7] The store was also home to the well known Hay's Rooftop which was a children's playground on the roof of the store it existed from the opening until its conversion into a Farmers store. The store faced onto Armagh Street/Victoria Square, Colombo Street & Gloucester Street.[8] In 1970 the Hay's signage was removed from the Victoria Square side and replaced with Haywrights signage.[9] 1929 1982
Church Corner, Christchurch Opening in 1960 the store was converted to Farmers in 1982 when FTC purchased the company and later it was converted into a Dollar Wise supermarket and then demolished in the late 1980s a Countdown supermarket is now on the site.[10][5] 1960 1982
Northlands, Christchurch Opened as a Hay's branch on 18 October 1967, prior to the Northlands mall opening on 1 November 1967, the store was converted to Farmers in 1982 and still currently operates as a Farmers.[11][12] 1967 1982
Sydenham, Christchurch On 22 March 1955, Hay's opened its Sydenham store (also known as the South Christchurch store), the store was expanded in 1975 and eventually turned into a Farmers store (now closed).[13][14] Around the store the South Mall was built which is now known as The Colombo. 1955
Ashburton Originally a Hay's.[15][16]
Timaru In 1961 Hay's purchased Timaru department store T. and J. Thomson (Est. 1883) they rebranded the store into Hay's and in 1982 it was converted to Farmers and the Farmers still operates currently.[17][15] Before the permant store a limited time furniture showroom was opened in 1938 above the State Theatre on Stafford Street.[18] 1961 1982
Baclutha 1976[19]
Dunedin The store was large with entrances on George Street and Great King Street, located between Moray Place and St Andrew Street. The building was originally constructed for the firm of A.T. Inglis and was later the premises of Brown Ewing Ltd before becoming the Dunedin Hay's branch. As of 2022 the building is a Farmers and the only Farmers store in Dunedin. 1982
Oamaru The Oamaru store was originally the John Bulleid department store and was bought and rebranded to Hays in 1961, the store is currently a Farmers. 1961 1982
Blenheim [15]
Nelson [15]
Moteuka [15]
Greymouth [15]
North Island Locations
Downtown Shopping Centre, Auckland Opened as a Milnes in February 1975 the store was rebranded to Haywrights in January 1976 after Haywrights purchase of the Milne & Choyce company, the store continued on as a Haywrights store until October 1979. The Downtown Shopping Centre closed in 2016 and on the site currently is the Commercial Bay development.[20][21][22] 1976 1979
Glenfield Mall, Auckland The store opened at the same time as the mall in 1971, It opened as a Haywrights and was later sold to Farmers Trading Company in 1978.[23][24] Farmers still currently operates a store at the mall. 1971 1978
Henderson [25]
LynnMall, Auckland Opened as a Milne & Choyce in 1963 it was sold to Rendells Ltd. in 1978.[24] 1963 1978
Māngere [24] 1978
Manukau City Mall, Auckland [26]
Panmure, Auckland The store was sold to Rendells Ltd. in 1978 & as of 2022 is a Postie store[24]
St. Lukes, Auckland [26]
Takapuna, Auckland The store closed in 1978[24]
Rotorua The store opened on 29 February 1969, as John Courts then rebranded to Cornishs in 1974 and then Haywrights in September 1975. In 1979 was sold and converted into a D.I.C opening on 1 August 1979. The store was on the corner of Tutanekei & Eruera St [27]
Napier The store was sold to D.I.C in 1979.[28]
Dannevirke The store was sold to D.I.C in 1979.[28]
Taihape [27]
Hamilton [25]
Tūrangi [27]
Coastlands, Paraparaumu The store was sold to James Smith in 1979.[24]
Lambton Quay, Wellington The store was sold to James Smith in 1979.[24]
Lower Hutt [24]
Masterton [24]
  • Haywrights, Greymouth (Seen in the background)
  • Haywrights, Downtown Shopping Centre, Auckland
    Haywrights, Downtown Shopping Centre, Auckland
  • Haywrights Glenfield Mall
    Haywrights Glenfield Mall
  • St. Lukes Mall late 1970s
    St. Lukes Mall late 1970s
  • Outside St. Lukes late 1970s
    Outside St. Lukes late 1970s

References
  1. "Hay's Ltd". my.christchurchcitylibraries.com. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  2. Rice, G. W. "Hay, James Lawrence". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  3. "Page 16 Advertisements Column 1". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  4. "Former Milne and Choyce staff laid off". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  5. Hunter, Ian (2009). Farmers: Your Store for 100 Years. New Zealand: Harper Collins New Zealand. ISBN 9781869507633.
  6. Sachdeva, Sam (28 August 2012). "Farmers building urgently demolished". Stuff. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  7. "Opening day for Te Pae Convention Centre". WSPglobal. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  8. "Hay's Ltd". my.christchurchcitylibraries.com. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  9. "NEW NAME". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  10. "24 Hour Raffle". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  11. "Hay's magnificent new fully air conditioned store opens today in Northlands". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  12. "Opening Today Northlands". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  13. "Hay's South Christchurch Sydenham Store opens today". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  14. "Hayrights concerned". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  15. "Christchurch". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  16. "Wright, Stephenson & Co Ltd - Department Stores: 1966 Hay's - Ashburton, South Canterbury". The Fletcher Trust Archive Collection Online. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  17. "Hay's Bid Accepted". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  18. "Furniture Showroom , Furniture Showroom". Timaru Herald. 19 May 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  19. "Haywrights concerned". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  20. "Haywrights closes at Auckland Downtown shopping centre". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  21. "Haywrights will move carefully". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 August 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. "Haywrights closes Auckland Downtown shopping centre". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  23. "Department Store Manager". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  24. "Haywrights sells two Wellington stores". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  25. "Haywrights sells two Auckland stores". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  26. "Hayrights closes Auckland downtown shopping centre". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  27. "Haywrights sells Rotorua store". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  28. "Haywrights to sell two North Island stores". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
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