From our humble beginnings in 1876, Donaghys started as a small family-owned rope-works operating out of Dunedin. Today we continue to lead the market in innovative products, on farms, in aquaculture and manufacturing with a team both here in New Zealand and Australia.
Maintaining and growing a successful business for 150 years takes more than passion and dedication alone. It takes innovation and a great team of people behind our products and services to make things happen.
In 2026, we will have traded for 150 years. To celebrate this extraordinary milestone throughout next year, we will be holding a variety of events and celebrations.
This will provide us with the opportunity to honour the vision and hard work of those that have played a critical part in our long and successful history as Donaghys.
To help us celebrate our special birthday, we have created a 150th Anniversary version of our logo.
Throughout next year we will be celebrating with our people, our clients, partners and contacts, reflecting on our achievements but also looking forward to the exciting future we see ahead.
Keep a watch on this page for rolling updates, of our celebrations throughout 2026.
We are Donaghys, proud to be New Zealand owned and operated for (nearly) 150 years.
Credit: A New Twist – A Centennial History of Donaghys Industries Limited – by Kathryn G. Lucas. Photo credit: Hocken Collections.
This is our founder John Donaghy (1876) from Geelong, Australia, who established the Dunedin branch of Donaghys Industries Ltd.
John Donaghy had tried life on the Australian goldfields before he joined the family firm. He was an extremely capable businessman and in later years became Mayor of Geelong West and a member of the Legislative Assembly in Australia.
The discovery of gold in Otago brought prosperity to the region, and along with shipping, created a demand for sturdy ropes. With strong trading links between Victoria and Otago; Dunedin served as one of New Zealand’s busiest ports. So, it was no accident that Dunedin was chosen as the location for our business to be established in New Zealand.
In 1878 the Donaghys Rope Works moved to its current location at 63 Bradshaw Street, South Dunedin. The land was purchased for £373 and a further £7,000 was spent on the buildings and plant development.
Builders were sent from Geelong to undertake the build, and the Dunedin branch of Donaghys began with the very latest American patented machinery.
Specifically built (and replaced in 1920), was a 320-meter “rope walk”, which was used to manufacture ropes of significant size and length. This structure was used to lay out and twist together and strands of fibre to create the final rope. Donaghys rope walk, was likely the last of its kind in New Zealand, and is proof of the history and the scale of rope production at the time.
The largest rope ever manufactured in the Southern Hemisphere was made by Donaghys !!
Today the rope walk, is considered a significant piece of New Zealand’s industrial heritage, and its length is a testament to the scale of rope production, according to Heritage New Zealand.
Credit: A New Twist – A Centennial History of Donaghys Industries Limited – by Kathryn G. Lucas. Photo credit: Hocken Collections.
In 1880, Donaghys faced fierce competition, and many ropeworks were being hit by the depression. The Donaghys family decided to sell the business, to William Royse and Alfred Lee Smith, before they returned to Australia.
Keeping in touch with new trends and innovations, was one of the factors which enabled Donaghys not only to survive but to compete so successfully with its many New Zealand rivals.
Benjamin Throp the factory manager was retained in the change of ownership of Donaghys, this allowed the company to proudly exhibit its ware in the Christchurch Exhibition of 1882. The showpiece was the largest rope ever manufactured in the Southern hemisphere – at the time. It was a twelve-strand rope, 235 feet long, and 24 inches in circumference. It took the entire factory staff 10 hours to make. Exhibiting was one of the most effect ways of advertising before print and radio methods were developed.
By 1890 Donaghys Binder Twine had become one of the stable products of the company. It was manufactured from raw materials to the finished article in cotton, jute and hemp. Well-known brands included ‘Eclipse’ and ‘Gold Medal’. By 1890, 525 tonnes of twine was manufactured a year with 700 tonnes expected to be produced in 1891.
We’d love to hear and see your memories of Donaghys, over the years. Drop us a line to [email protected] as we start to celebrate our 150-year rich history.
We are Donaghys, proud to be New Zealand owned and operated for (nearly) 150-years.
Thank you for being part of our journey!
