Eltham is a town of industrial firsts and the unofficial cheese capital of New Zealand.
Chinese businessman Chew Chong exported the country’s first butter to England in 1884 and built the first dairy factory in 1887. Eltham was also the first place in New Zealand to get tar sealed roads and concrete power poles. It’s no surprise then that the town is home to several large and innovative food processing and engineering enterprises.
Buildings in the town are significant for their architecture and their importance tp Eltham’s social and economic history. Visitors can stroll through the town, stopping at the Village Art Gallery, cafes, and park while the bargain hunter and curio collector will love the many charming village shops which celebrate Eltham’s retro past.
