Corporate entry: Thomas Borthwick and SONS (A'Asia) Limited, Meatworks, Merinda, 4805
Summary
Local graziers established the Bowen Meat Export Company in 1895; the plant was leased and later purchased by an English frozen meat export company, Bergi and Babbin, which by 1901 had become Bergi (Australia) London Ltd. The company also operated a meatworks at Hughenden for a period, and owned pastoral stations, notably Pandanus and Longton, in the Bowen hinterland. Depression and an associated decline in killings and beef prices from the late 1920s, induced the company to sell out in 1932, to Thomas Borthwick and Sons, and this company has continued to control the enterprise. The meatworks currently caters for the local and export trade and is located at Merinda, some 10 kilometres north-west of Bowen. OFFICE:
Industrial diaries, including daily accounts of works operations, lists of employees, details of Union matters and disputes, some correspondence inserted, 1923-1934, 12 vols.
Production record, including some correspondence and memos, 1925-1937, 1 vol.
Stock record, with details of average weights and costs of cattle purchased, including records for individual grazier suppliers with date, no. of stock, male/female, average weight, contract price and actual price.
Photographs, a collection of mill scenes, management and staff groups etc., from ca. 1900, 1 album and 1 bundle of single prints.
STRONG ROOM
Wages book, April, 1933-July 1944, 3 vols, record held to present.