Hocken Digital Collections

Dawsons Limited : Records

Details

Reference NumberMS-3031CreatorDawsons LimitedDescriptionThe collection includes directors' papers, financial records, papers relating to operational matters, agreements and leases, papers relating to the building and alteration of premises, and photographs, including examples taken or inscribed by George Chance.
Only a small part of this collection is digitised and available through Digital Collections. Information about other items can be found on the Hākena catalogue, through the Library Catalogues link above.History / BiographyDawsons Limited was a jeweller's firm situated in central Dunedin. The business was established by William Dawson, co-founder of Speight's brewery, and managed for many years by George Chance, the well-known photographer. The company was established in 1908 and its first premises were at 14 Princes Street in a shop which had been occupied by James Bremner, jeweller, and before him by others in the trade, including Frank Hyams. Around 1914 Dawsons moved to premises on the corner of Princes Street and Moray Place, where they remained for 67 years. In addition to a jewellery and silversmith business, Dawsons included an optician's practice for which George Chance was engaged prior to his arrival in Dunedin in 1909. In 1925, two years after William Dawson's death, Chance was appointed a director of the firm, and in the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition of that and the following year Dawsons Limited won gold medals for greenstone and pewter ware. Chance died in 1963, by which time his son George had become a director of the firm along with Doug Porteous. Porteous retired in 1978, ending a 27-year association with Dawsons, and was succeeded as managing director by J.R. Stuttaford, who had been company secretary. Over the years Dawsons expanded its interests to include a photographic department, china, glassware, leather goods, and a range of gifts and souvenirs, but the company was finally taken over by Daniels Jewellers Limited in 1981-1982.
Note: Dawsons Limited should not be confused with Stewart Dawson and Company.

Photograph

Haynes Buildings (Savoy Buildings), showing Dawsons Limited

Depicts Or Relates To

SubjectsJewelleryJewellersSilversmithsOpticiansPhotographersBusiness enterprises - Dunedin

Digital Collections

Hocken Digital Collections

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Dawsons Limited : Records

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