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Our December 2023 meeting was a blast – literally! We enjoyed listening to local historian Lisa Truttman, who shared with us the story of the H.&W. Fowler factory explosion in 1966.
This was one of the most dramatic events in Auckland’s industrial history, as the metalworks factory in Rosebank erupted in a massive fireball that shook the city. The explosion was caused by molten nitrate salt used for the heat treatment of metals exploding in a steel bath. Some of the witnesses, who had experienced the war in England compared the blast to that of a V-2 rocket.
We ended 2023 with a wonderful Christmas Lunch at McHugh’s of Cheltenham, a charming restaurant on the foreshore of Cheltenham Beach. We enjoyed a delicious buffet meal and admired the stunning views of Rangitoto, North Head and the Waitemata Harbour.
Before going to McHughs we visited Devonport Museum. We were greeted by David Veart, a member of the Devonport Museum society and an archaeologist who worked DOC at Maungauika/North Head for 25 years. The museum is housed in a former Presbyterian church, run by volunteers passionate about preserving and sharing Devonport’s history and stories.
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This newsletter features some excellent photographs related to Lisa Truttman’s talk and of members at the Devonport Museum and McHughs of Cheltenham.