Herbert “Bert” Lamont Duncan (1906-1977)

Contributed by guest author John Green

H.L. Duncan (centre) and two others

Bert Duncan was an important roading contractor and quarry proprietor from the 1930s to 1960s who also owned one of the main metal quarries for Tauranga, near the far end of what is now the old Welcome Bay Road. There was another at Pukemapu Rd from whence they barged rock due to the Waimapu River being tidal. He began with a horse and wagon, and by one stage actually ran five quarries simultaneously, including one on the road to Athenree. He sold his last working quarry in Kaitemako Rd, Welcome Bay, together with his four newer trucks, to Winstones in the late 1960s.

Bert and Wattie beside Diamond Tee, plus Toddler

He had a reputation as a hard man to work for. Wages were low but many people stayed with him for a long time. Wattie Crapp was his foreman, which may have been the only job he ever had.

Bert operated Diamond Tees, including a large ex-army dump truck, a White transporter (also ex-army), quite a few Dodges, a number of Commer trucks carting metal, and a mobile crane, among others. Johnny Dodds drove the old Commer articulated tip truck.

White Transporter

His workshop and yard were in Kowhai Street, with an additional access from 15th Avenue - there are flats there now. He also had a smaller yard on Courtney Rd and an office in Grey Street, on the site of the old gas works. He had a well-equipped workshop, including a big lathe operated by Reg Hone.

On Dive Crescent

Later he built a workshop at Barkes Corner called Highway Motors. He had hoped to have petrol pumps there in addition to his garage but was not given a permit for them. This was later the site of an auction of all his old quarry and roading equipment. A garage crane built by employee Alan Jones is still in use in the old Highway Motors building today.

Diamond Tee at Manoeka Quarry

One of the developments Bert was heavily involved in was the Merivale subdivision in the 1950s. He was also a partner in the Tauranga Wallboard Company making plasterboard and ceiling mouldings.

Ex-employee Alan Jones remembers as a young lad watching the WW2 landing craft ”Capitaine Cook” being deliberately beached on the Tauranga waterfront between the two town piers. The front opened to the left and the right and several ex-US army trucks from the Pacific Islands were driven into the shallow water. He believes these may have included the Dodges and Diamond Tees operated by Bert Duncan.

The other comment he made was that his employer was in London and saw the large White transporter carrying food supplies. He made arrangements to buy it and imported it in 2 pieces to save shipping space. The back third of the chassis was cut through and “telescoped” on top of the middle portion.  He said this was a common practice to save costs.

HL Duncan Invoice

Other contractors in the 50s and 60s included Jack Prince, Garth Renner, Don Robbins, Alf Walling.

Tauranga Archives online (Pae Koroki) has a digitised 16 minute movie titled “Cameron Road – 1950” taken by Norman Blackie which shows a lot of men and old gear radically reconstructing our main street in 1950. Watching that stimulated this article. Many thanks to Graeme Ross for his shared knowledge and images, and to Alan Jones for his memories.

All images are from a private collection.