Interesting Collectables of New Zealand
Souvenir China, Mineral Water Bottles & history, Antique Telephones.

Butement Brothers

Thomas Thompson Butement (b c 1800 - d 6.3.1884) was born in Berwick upon Tweed, England. He emigrated to Australia in 1853 and between 1854 and 1862 established 2 soda water factories in Melbourne.

His sons were the "Butement Bros". They were:
    William Curry Butement: Appears to have been a partner in the Dunedin business, then established premises of his own in Christchurch.
    John Trotter Butement: Substantial runholder in Glenorchy (Queenstown) and was owner of the North Station between 1866-1887. Built the Alpine Club Hotel, Glenorchy about 1885 - destroyed by fire in 1900. His last venture was a brewery in Masterton.
    James Dodds Butement: Was a partner in Thames.
   Thomas Thompson Butement II: A partner in the North Station between 1866-1868 when he moved to Thames to establish "new" Butement Bros.

Harnett's Dunedin Directory 1863 lists Butements in Princess St North. Daily Telegraph, Feb 4th 1863 lists these premises as destroyed by fire. The 1866 Directory lists them as being in Bond St - Bond, Crawford & Lower Rattray Sts. It is believed they moved from Dunedin to Greymouth in 1866 (Wises Greymouth Directory 1866 - Greeson St, Greymouth).

Thomas II & James leased 2 sections of Maori land in Pollen St, Shortland from Jan 1st 1869.

Known bottles:
Dunedin - Hamilton
Wellington - GB impressed "Butement-Wellington"
Greymouth - GB impressed "Butement Bros Greymouth"
Christchurch - Hamilton - " W Butement - Aerated Water, Christchurch"
Thames - Hamiltons - "Butement Bros, Shortland" & "T Butement, Shortland"