Just out of his teens William Britton bought a vintage poster for $400, and sold it for $13,500 in the US. Already hooked on treasure hunting his way around New Zealand, he’d hit upon a career.
Salvage Place in Pukekohe, Franklin NZ
William Britton
Owner of Salvage Place
A Treasure Hunter’s Eye
William’s not an antiques dealer, although he knows a few. His studio-style warehouse isn’t full of bric-a-brac, second hand books, your gran’s crockery or charity shop clothing. It’s more like finding the most interesting furniture, signage, marketing materials and more from every garage sale, barn clear-out, hoarder and closed museum in the country. Because that’s essentially what William does.
“It’s a full-time job,” he says. “I started 15 years’ ago just in the markets. I buy from everywhere, and I just buy what I like. It’s a broad mix as I’ve often got no idea what I’m going to find!”
This makes the shop a constantly changing treasure trove of cool. For example, on the day I walk in, a few things catch my eye. Perched on a cabinet is a deactivated .50 calibre Browning machine gun. Designed for training purposes, it has a cut off barrel and see-through side to show the workings. There’s a bumper car. Bus blinds showing various destinations. Hunched near the back of the room is an uncomfortable and slightly sinister looking Michelin Man marketing costume. It dates back to 1925, and sits by an accompanying poster of similar vintage. There’s even a complete horse drawn carriage.
Vintage Finds, Auctions and Collectors
It’s easy to imagine why mancave connoisseurs, collectors, vintage car owners and interior designers all beat a path to William’s door. They come to Pukekohe to complete their visions with the authentic and storied materials he carefully curates.
So far, his success has seen him shift from market stall to small unit to his current premises. This is large enough for him to host the auctions that he was compelled to lay on due to public demand. Behind the scenes is an online and dealership business that draws in interest from around the country and even overseas, including the odd celebrity.
“It goes in trends,” he explains. “Like, colonial furniture isn’t really worth anything at the moment, whereas it was 10 years ago. People don’t want what their parents wanted. I just love passing all the stories on when I can. Something like 10% of people love their job. I’m one of them.”
For William, part of the joy is the location. Born in the UK, but raised in this region, his business is built on personal connections.
“Pukekohe’s a good spot,” he says. “It’s an hour from Auckland, an hour from Thames and an hour from Hamilton. The West Coast is right there. So it’s a good central location.”
Why Pukekohe Works
“There’s a lot of entrepreneurs here, a lot of business owners. There’s a trend for new businesses. And things have a lot of resilience here. Everybody who lives here that I talk to likes it. I don’t think that happens everywhere. It’s a big little town with a community vibe.”
