[1] Notice was given that the foundry site was required under the Auckland and Drury Railway Act 1863, so, in 1864, 2 acres (0.81 ha) were acquired in nearby Stanley Street, and a partnership began with Theodore Tinne.

[13] They also produced flax-dressers, machinery and boilers for the stampers on the Thames goldfields,[1] girders for a new Lunatic Asylum and equipment for a tannery at Panmure and Seccombe and Son's (later Lion) brewery.

[12] The engines, boiler and breaking-down and circular saw benches were designed and erected by George's father-in-law, Alexander Davidson,[1] who had arrived in Auckland by 1860.

[22] In 1872 Phoenix re-engined Southern Cross with 90 psi (620 kPa), surface-condensing compound engines and high-pressure boilers, almost halving its coal consumption.

[24][20] It was the first marine compound engine in the country and it was reported that George Fraser almost failed to convince her owner, John Sangster Macfarlane, who reluctantly accepted the advice.

[1] Part of the reason for the increase was that George and John Sangster formed syndicates between 1872 and 1878, with Alexander McGregor, William Laird, Captain Casey and D. B. and James Cruickshank.

They built and operated many new compound-engined ships - Rowena, lona, Argyle, Staffa, Douglas, McGregor, Minnie Casey, Annie Millbank and Lily.

[5][29][1] Other work included engines and boilers for Star of the South, Kennedy (twin screw), Pilot, Douglas, Little Agnes, Ohinemuri, Weka and Rob Roy.

Although purchased for £2,100[6] and being greatly acclaimed,[33] attempts to sell or trade the vessel profitably failed and it had to be sold in Britain in 1888 to stave off bankruptcy as the company struggled with recession.

[36] Although generally described as a good employer, ten of Phoenix's employees took the company to court for wage arrears during the period leading up to bankruptcy in 1889.

[41] By 1900 the Phoenix Foundry was by far the largest engineering works in Auckland, with moulding equipment, steam hammers, heavy cranes, the shipyard.

Prior to the construction, an archaeological survey of the area of the Phoenix Foundry and the Fraser family house, exposed a furnace for scrap, with two buttressed brick flues.

[14] The curved flue, with bevelled arch bricks, was rebuilt on the corner of Stanley St and Grafton Road Bridge, on the Coast-to-Coast walkway.

[51] The survey also found 3 brick-lined industrial wells,[14] relating to old breweries, bottlers and engineers,[51] Short History of George Fraser & Sons 1862 - 1952, published in Auckland, April 1958 by W Hampton-Reynolds