One of Marton's business giants turned 100 this year.
Started in 1910 by Andrew, James and Tom McIlwaine, T & J McIlwaine Ltd, based in Russell St, is now a conglomerate. It has a retail hardware store, makes readymix concrete, has a team of builders, processes timber and has forestry investments.
Currentmanaging director Randall McIlwaine is the fourth generation of the family to work there.
The company celebrated 100 years with a golf day on Thursday, and yesterday Rangitikei MP Simon Power came by for morning tea and cut the centenary cake.
Wellington historian Michael Steer is writing a book about the company, which should be available before the end of the year.
The business has had many twists and turns.
Building was one of its first ventures, and in 1924 it helped in enlarging the Marton Town Hall. In 1925 it shifted the Marton Jockey Club grandstands from one side of the racecourse to the other, using a single draughthorse.
At the onset of World War II building teams helped build Waiouru and Linton military camps.
As builders the family had a natural interest in timber, and bought 2500ha of pasture and native forest at Taunoka, across the Whanganui River from Jerusalem.
Making concrete is another natural extension to a building business and T & J McIlwaine's readymix concrete was trucked all over the region, often on very difficult roads.
The company's timber mill, geared to native timber rather than exotic pine, finally closed in 1997, with the loss of 16 jobs.
The family retains an investment in forestry, through joint ventures with farmers.
