Rice Owen Clark came to Wellington aged 24 in 1841 and had moved to Auckland by 1854. He bought land on the water at Hobsonville with a plan to use it for agriculture, but found it was heavy clay that needed draining. He started making some field tiles, which his neighbours were also interested in because they had the same problem with their land.

He succeeded in growing and trading vegetables but also set up a brick and pipe works. R.O. Clark Ltd grew steadily and was producing 60 000 bricks a week by 1885. It eventually became part of Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company, which ultimately led to Crown Lynn directed by Rice Owen Clark's grandson Tom Clark.

Curious about the early history of brick making in Auckland? Te Toi Uku tell this rich history alongside the iconic Crown Lynn story.