A number of truly momentous things happened in New Zealand in 1886. In June, there was a large eruption at Tarawera which buried a village and flooded the Pink & White Terraces; In August, WH’s great-grandfather arrived from England; and, on 3 November, in a sleepy little farming community just out of Hamilton, the Anchor brand was born when the first Anchor butter was produced.
From a dairy factory at Pukekura, Waikato, Henry Reynolds launched his Anchor butter. The brand name, allegedly inspired by a tattoo on the arm of one of his workers, would become one of this country’s best-known trademarks.
New Zealand’s dairy export industry developed following the advent of refrigerated shipping during the 1880s. Reynolds was one of the country’s first dairy factory entrepreneurs, establishing several plants in Waikato. He built a cool store in London and sold direct to shops there, as well as exporting to Australia and Asia.
The Anchor butter recipe came from an American, David Gemmell, who was farming near Hamilton. Reynolds was impressed with both the taste and longevity of Gemmell’s product. When Gemmell announced that he was moving back to the United States, Reynolds convinced him to delay his journey for six months to help him establish his dairy factory. The Anchor brand quickly established itself as a market leader and the company’s butter, milk and cheese are still familiar items in households here and around the world.
NZ History
Reynolds also owned Woodlands, a fantastic Kauri villa near Gordonton. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.
But nothing remains static and the Anchor logo has gone through a few iterations since it jumped from the ex-sailor’s arm. It now looks like this.
