Last updated May 2026
The Hoffman Kiln on Featherston Street is one of Palmerston North’s most-significant industrial heritage sites, built around 1904 by Robert Price Edwards (1854-1924) as part of his brick-making business. The 14-chamber continuous kiln was capable of producing thousands of bricks a day at its peak and is a Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place.
The kiln has not been in production since 1959 and is now one of the few surviving examples in New Zealand. It is thought to be the only Hoffman continuous kiln still standing in the North Island. Restoration has been progressively undertaken by the community since the site was protected.
Practical Information
| Location | Featherston Street, Palmerston North |
| Built | About 1904, by Robert Price Edwards as part of his brickworks (established 1900 at Featherston Street, after earlier Dahlia Street premises) |
| Type | Hoffman oblong continuous brick kiln, 14 chambers accessed through wicket openings |
| Last used | 1959 |
| Heritage status | Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place; listed under the Historic Places Act 1993 |
| National significance | Thought to be the only Hoffman continuous kiln still standing in the North Island |
About the Hoffman Kiln
The Hoffman Kiln on Featherston Street was built around 1904 by Robert Price Edwards (1854-1924), who established his brick-making business on the site in 1900 after shifting from earlier premises in Dahlia Street. The kiln used the Hoffman continuous-firing design developed by German engineer Friedrich Hoffmann in the 1850s.
The kiln consists of 14 chambers accessed through ‘wicket’ openings on the side. The continuous-firing design allowed bricks to be stacked in one chamber while others were firing, with the fire travelling around all 14 chambers, allowing the operation to run continuously rather than firing one batch at a time.
The brickworks supplied bricks used in many Palmerston North and wider Manawatu buildings of the early 20th century. Brick and Pipes Limited, formed 1919, took over the kiln from R D Edwards, and in 1929 amalgamated with two other brickmakers, W Mouldey and Trevor Bros. Production continued through to 1959, when changes in building methods and competition from other materials made traditional brick kiln operation no longer commercially viable.
Heritage and Restoration
The Hoffman Kiln is one of the few surviving Hoffman continuous kilns in New Zealand and is thought to be the only one still standing in the North Island, making it nationally significant industrial heritage. The site is recognised as a Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place, listed under the Historic Places Act 1993.
The kiln has been progressively restored by the local community. Heritage New Zealand and Manawatu Heritage hold archival photographs and historical records, and the kiln was celebrated for its 120th anniversary in recent years. Public access is typically via heritage open days and tours rather than continuous opening hours; check Manawatu Heritage and the Hoffman Kiln community page for current arrangements.
What Visitors Often Say
Heritage enthusiasts consistently rate the Hoffman Kiln as one of Palmerston North’s most distinctive industrial heritage sites. The 14-chamber continuous-firing design, the impressive production capacity at peak, and the kiln’s status as the only surviving Hoffman kiln in the North Island all draw specific mentions in heritage and history writing about the city.
Practical observations: public access is typically by heritage open day or arranged tour rather than walk-up; check Manawatu Heritage or the Hoffman Kiln Facebook page for current viewing arrangements; the site sits in the wider Featherston Street area of central Palmerston North.
Where to Learn More
Manawatu Heritage: Hoffman Kiln: Palmerston North City Council heritage archive on the kiln and the wider Featherston Street brickworks site.
Heritage New Zealand: Hoffman Kiln 120th anniversary: official Heritage New Zealand story on the kiln.
Wikipedia: Hoffmann kiln: technical background on the continuous-firing kiln design and history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Hoffman Kiln?
On Featherston Street in Palmerston North.
When was it built?
About 1904, by Robert Price Edwards. His brick-making business on the site started in 1900, having moved from earlier premises in Dahlia Street.
How does a Hoffman kiln work?
It is a continuous-firing design with 14 chambers accessed through ‘wicket’ openings. Bricks can be stacked in one chamber while others fire; the fire travels around all 14 chambers, allowing continuous operation.
When did it stop production?
1959. Changes in building methods and competition from other materials made the kiln no longer commercially viable.
Is it heritage-listed?
Yes. Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place, listed under the Historic Places Act 1993.
Is it the only one left?
It is thought to be the only Hoffman continuous kiln still standing in the North Island, and one of very few surviving in New Zealand.
Can I visit?
Public access is typically by heritage open day or arranged tour. Check Manawatu Heritage or the Hoffman Kiln Facebook page for current viewing arrangements.
For more heritage sites, see the historical and cultural sites hub. Combine with Te Manawa for the wider Palmerston North heritage scene.
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