Butter Factory (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The Federation style Butter Factory buildings have a significant presence on the southern entrance to the township with the pleasing proportions and simple forms of the main building and tile striking Art Nouveau influences of the administration offices creating an unusual aesthetic statement that makes a significant contribution to the streetscape and helps to establish the character of the town. The factory was one of the earliest local industries with major significance to the pattern of development of the region and several generations of the dairy industry. The place has considerable potential to contribute to an understanding of a way of life no longer practiced and as a restaurant it is a focus for social interaction.

Physical Description

The buildings of The Great Southern Co-operative Butter Company Limited, now known as The Butter Factory, are situated in a prominent position on Federal street on the outskirts of the Lown of Narrogin on the main road South. The handsome complex consists of two distinct red brick buildings linked together under separate corrugated iron roofs and forming a pleasing group of agricultural buildings of no one, clearly identifiable style. The original 1918/19 building is a simple agricultural type gable roofed structure which housed the churning, pasturising, packing and grading of butter with the compressor and steam engine housed in a separate section on the northern side and later extended with a wing to the west The addition of new machinery in 1932 resulted in the erection of an administration nnd office block with accommodation for the manager, and this forms the present building north of the original under a truncated hip corrugated iron roof.

The north facade of this building has two entrance doors side by side under a shallow porch marked by a pair of rendered pilasters and a most unusual and distinctive cement rendered parapet asymmetrically placed and featuring a 1920s style elliptical cutout with simple vertical balusters. This eye catching feature might most appropriately be described as a blend of Federation Freestyle and Federation Queen Anne with Art Nouveau influences. The half glazed and paneled doors are separated by a brick pier and arc flanked by a limber sash window to the left and n smaller round arched window to the right under the parapet. A painted render band extends at window head height from the parapet around the eastern facade of this building above more sash windows and another round arched window, to a tall parapet of red brick. This prominent raised parapet marks the linking point of the two buildings and features a recessed panel containing the company name over a doorway ,currently not in use, and two flanking windows.. Behind this entrance the buildings are linked at the rear by a lean-lo verandah on simple timber posts. Another deep verandah has been created on the south-cast front corner of the building giving access through a jarrah framed, glazed double door to what is now the restaurant and function room. This verandah is also supported on simple timber posts on a brick plinth and there arc high level timber frame windows above the doorway but under the roof. There is also a glazed lantern light projecting above the roof ridge to provide additional daylight within.

Jn addition to the restaurant and large function room at the front there is a laboratory room and what was once the board room, recently converted as part of a three bedroom apartment with polished jarrah floors, a federation style bathroom,
...and a spacious lounge with magnificent leadlight doors which used to hang in the Weld Club in Pcrth. Further 'extensively renovated' one bedroom accommodation is attached to the rear of the factory

History

Assessment 2000
Construction 1918/1919

Dairying has always been a sideline of the fanning industry in the Narrogin district, so it seemed that a butter factory would surely be successful. In September 1918 the Great Southern Butter Company was launched under the chairmanship of W.F. Piesse, member of the prominent local agricultural family. A brick structure with a corrugated iron roof was erected to house the machinery, with a separate section in the north side for the compressor and steam engine. The churning, pasteurising, packing and grading took place in the main building. First grade butter produced at the Great Southern Butter Company was called "Narrico" and second grade was named "Ricky Hill".The Butter Factory was closely linked to the railways: Cans of cream from individual farms were collected at rail sidings on each line and taken off at the factory for conversion to butter.

The factory was officially opened in 1919 and the company did well with turnover increasing each successive year. By 1932 the business had expanded sufficiently that new machinery was installed and additions were also made to the building to provide administration offices and accommodation for the manager.
However, it was gradually realised that climatic conditions in Narrogin were not really suited to dairying and with increasing demand and high prices being paid for wool, the fanners in the district gradually turned away from dairy cattle to the fanning of sheep, and milk production began to decline. The factory eventually closed in 1952 and since that time the place has had various owners and been used as a restaurant and private dwelling.

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This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.