About Morton Timber
Our timber merchant business is conveniently located on North Road, a stone's throw away from Clevedon Village. As a family-owned business, we are committed to providing high-quality building and hardware products to our local customers. Our team, led by Dean Morton, is always available to assist you from Monday to Saturday.
We take great pride in offering a wide range of products that cater to the needs of farmers, builders, and handymen alike. No matter what your project may be, we are here to offer advice and help with deliveries. From potting soil to farming sheds, piles, and poles, you can find everything you need under one roof.
So why not drop by our store today and see for yourself why we are the go-to choice for all your building and hardware needs? We look forward to serving you!
History - from sawmill to timber merchant
In 1979, Phil and Sheryl Morton became the owners of a sawmill and timber yard located on North Road in Clevedon. They acquired it from Aubrey Hopkins. The mill used to employ 4 to 5 workers and primarily milled Macrocarpa logs, which were sourced from nearby land blocks.
During the winter months, the yard would often become inaccessible due to the muddy conditions, which made it difficult for vehicles to enter. Many former employees of the mill can recall the cold mornings with only a drum fire to keep their hands warm.
The sawmill was originally started by Harry Burdett. Native logs were usually transported up the Wairoa River, and then through the Ruatawhiti Stream to the mill. Sometimes the logs came from as far as the Coromandel Peninsula. The logs were milled using the old-fashioned pit saw, which was set up at the edge of the stream.
Phil Morton expanded the business by introducing pine milling. This led to a surge in production, with up to 10-12 employees working in the summer and producing up to 20 cubic metres of sawn timber per day. The pine logs were sourced from local landowners, with good plantation pines coming from blocks such as Miles Adams' Matingarahi, ICI Waitawa Farms, and other smaller blocks.
The sound of saws and the smell of fresh sawdust is now a distant memory as many smaller mills, including Morton's, were unable to compete with modern computerised mills. Even though the old sawmill is still standing, it's no longer in use.
Morton's shifted their focus to trading timber and related products. During the 1980s, a large warehouse was constructed to store all the building and hardware necessities of community members such as farmers, builders, and handymen. Today Morton Timber is one of the few independent timber merchants, a family business that is 100% NZ owned and operated.