Like many places described on our website, this Matheson Road took its name from a family who settled here. But this family had an unusually long connection with the road.
John Matheson established a fellmongery and wool-scouring business in 1888, first in partnership with a Henry Brockett at Woodlands. He later went out on his own account, and from 1894 operated on the banks of the Waihopai River at Kennington, where Matheson Road now is.
Two sons joined the business, James and Thomas (known as Alex), but both were killed in action during the First World War. Their stories are told elsewhere on this website: James Weir Matheson and Thomas Alexander Matheson.
As a result another son, George, left his engineering training and joined the family business (J Matheson & Co). After the premises was destroyed by fire in 1950 George’s only son, John Matheson, left his accounting job and joined the firm. A new company, Matheson International, was formed and diversified into yarn and carpet making, but in the late 1970s and early 1980s it was taken over by UEB Industries. Two fires destroyed the buildings at about that time, but some wool processing operations continue on the site.
J Matheson & Co continues with investment and agricultural activities and other generations of the family were involved. John Matheson’s sons Wayne and Derek Matheson worked there, and Wayne’s sons John and Edward worked at the site until May 2013. This brought the family’s association with the road to 125 years.
The story of this family is told in The Matheson saga, which is available on our website here.
