The refinery was established in 1884, and remains New Zealand's main source of sugar products (for both home use and for the food and beverage industry).

Work began on the new refinery in 1883, when 150 workers levelled the ground, reclaimed a natural lagoon, built wharves (by blasting bedrock), and created dams using two-thirds of the 1.5 million bricks which were made on site; the remainder were used in the buildings.

[7] As work on the refinery began, the managers and company officers were able to adapt the existing farm cottages on the estate for their use, but the majority of workers lived in tents and temporary dwellings near the building site.

[6] However, the village did not remain for many years; the lower houses suffered from dampness and were unoccupied by the early 1890s, and by 1900 it was known as the "barracks" and occupied mainly by single men.

Some of the relocated cottages can still be seen in the older streets around Birkenhead, and the church, now known as St Peters, was moved to Verrans Corner (a local suburb).

The company housing loans and secure employment ensured long service, often complete generations from the same families all working at the refinery.

[13] In 1900, when the borough's population was 1000, one-third of the men worked at the refinery; local farmers and orchardists relied on casual labour in their off-season.

[5] The bridge opening also meant that Auckland’s North Shore was now a convenient place to live, so Chelsea sold more than 100 hectares of land for subdivision.

Raw sugar came from Fiji, Cuba, Australia, Indonesia, and Peru for refining, and until the building of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, the finished products were shipped out from the wharf.

[14] This port continues to accept ships, generally handysize bulk carriers, delivering up to 30,000 tons of raw sugar.

[17] The port is located up-harbour from the Harbour Bridge, thus enforcing a large central span (243.8 m) and height (43.27 m at high tide).

As part of the company's interest in preserving its early heritage for later generations, it has entrusted its archives to the Birkenhead Public Library.

[20] Among the other cultural impacts which the refinery has had on its surrounds is the origin of top local association football team Glenfield Rovers.

Sales offices and warehouses around the country aid in the distribution of 200,000 tonnes of sugar a year, supplying both retail and manufacturing markets.