The Tannery

The Woolston Tanneries was a prominent industry in Woolston for approximately 80 years. The tanneries were situated on a roughly triangular piece of land bounded by Garlands Road, Maunsell Street, Tanner Street and Cumnor Terrace, originally part of Rural Section 91, conveyed by the Canterbury Association to Henry Selfe Selfe. With the Heathcote River to the East and the Christchurch Lyttelton railway line running close to its southern boundary, it was an ideal site for industry. The Heathcote River was an important food source for Maori and was also an important transportation route. With Eur