Robert Forbes – shipwrecked sailmaker to shopkeeper

By Steve McKelvey

For over 80 years Forbes was a well-known business name in Ōhinehou Lyttelton, primarily operating as a ship chandler and hardware store. Founder Robert Forbes was born in 1833, his seagoing career included transporting troops to and from the Crimean War, and he was a sailmaker on the Lightning, a well-known clipper ship running between Liverpool and Melbourne.

Travelling on the barque Sebastapol from Sydney to Valparaiso Chile in 1860, Forbes was shipwrecked on the Chatham Islands. His arrival in Lyttelton was therefore unintentional – after the shipwreck he made his way to the port on a small schooner and began working for sailmaker Captain Henry Dunsford. Possibly his reason for not continuing at sea was meeting Annie Adamson, who had arrived in Lyttelton from Sydney in 1861. They married in Holy Trinity Anglican Church in February 1863, Robert aged 29 and Annie 26.

In 1865 Robert was running his own sailmaking business in Canterbury Street and he also bought and sold second hand scrap metal. By 1870 the couple had a young family and Annie later described how they lost everything in the fire of October that year, which destroyed most of the town centre. It was only by the generosity and help of neighbours that they were able to carry on. One two storey building on Norwich Quay that survived the fire became their main shop, a few doors from the Post Office. Robert Forbes signage on the pediment and decorative mosaic tiles at the entry made for distinctive branding. Upstairs was a sail loft and downstairs was used as a ship's chandlery and also stocked building and farming supplies. Sadly, the building was destroyed in the June 2011 earthquake.

In 1872 a corrugated iron residence was built next to the shop for the Forbes family, who occupied it for a few years until they moved to Sumner Road. Their old house became a commercial building later used by Kinsey Barnes and Co. and the Lyttelton Times. It was demolished in early 1914 when Kinsey and Co. built new premises on the same site.

In 1884 the R Forbes Oil Colour and Paper Hanging Establishment opened in the Palace buildings at the Moorhouse Avenue end of Manchester Street, Christchurch. Oil skin clothing was manufactured and sold alongside other hardware items. Just when the business was expanding, disaster struck again in Lyttelton. In February 1884 a fire started in the ground floor and due to the large amount of paint, tar, and ropes stored there the interior was gutted. Prompt action by the Lyttelton Fire Brigade contained the fire but most of the stock was destroyed. Forbes lost nearly £2000 after insurance company compensation. Possibly this huge financial loss explains why the Manchester Street branch closed down soon afterwards.

At the time of the fire, the Forbes family had moved to 22 Nursery Road, Linwood, Christchurch, and Robert was commuting to work by train. The fire damaged building was eventually repaired. Forbes ventured into the grocery business with another shop on the other side of Norwich Quay with a store behind it. After obtaining a wholesale liquor licence he became locally renowned for stocking a variety of fine whiskies. In 1904 a bottle of whisky cost 4s 10p (NZ$76).

Many high profile Lyttelton identities began their working life with Forbes such as apprentice William Toomey, who later formed his own sailmaking business, became President of the United Fire Brigades’ Association, and received the King George Vl Coronation Medal. George Laurenson was for a time bookkeeper and partner in the firm – he became Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board and of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and Member of Parliament for Lyttelton from 1899 until 1913. Robert and Annie’s son George recounted how George Laurenson encouraged him into politics. ‘Honest George’ Forbes started work in his father’s shop, later becoming Prime Minister of New Zealand from May 1930 until December 1935.

Robert Forbes retired about 1912 when approaching 80 years of age. The business was sold and new local shareholders continued trading as Forbes Ltd. In November 1949 the business changed hands again, being bought by Mason Struthers Ltd. The grocery store opposite eventually closed down and by 1974 only a full-time manager and two part-time staff remained. The shop stocked paints, rope and chain, tools, marine items, with building materials towards the back of the shop and crockery, clocks, and household hardware towards the front. The upstairs sail loft was unused. Not long afterwards, the business ceased trading, as did Mason Struthers in Christchurch.

Robert Forbes passed away in December 1922 and Annie in October 1929, while still living in her Nursery Road home in Christchurch. They left five sons and one daughter.