Old Butter Factory

Statement of Significance

• The Butter Factory building is a good example of post WW1 industrial architecture of a simple robust form, reflecting its original manufacturing function. In association with the Boiler House and Stack, the Butter Factory building is the most prominent building within the Old Butter Factory.
• Old Butter Factory has scenic vistas across the wetlands of the Vasse Estuary, which may be appreciated from the rear of the site. The position of Old Butter Factory, set back from the street, and the mature plantings of trees and gardens, contribute to the pleasant ambience of the place.
• Old Butter Factory was established by the State government from 1918 to replace the earlier outdated 1898 dairy in the Fairlawn district of Busselton, which was the first butter factory to be established in Western Australia. The change of use of the place from butter factory (1918) to powdered milk factory and depot (1960) and then to museum (1975), reflects the history and changes to the dairy industry in Western Australia in general, and in the south-west in particular.
• Old Butter Factory, as a major regional centre in both its original role in agriculture and its current use as a museum, was crucial to the early development of Busselton, and continues to contribute to the town’s tourism.
• As an operating factory, Old Butter Factory played an important role in the local and regional economy, and in the local dairy industry, which was assisted by the increase in dairy farming resulting from the post WWI Group Settlement Scheme implemented in the south-west of Western Australia. The factory also produced ice for locals before the
availability of domestic refrigerators.
• Old Butter Factory was established in order to assist Western Australia’s dairy industry in becoming self sufficient, to reduce import costs, and encourage primary industry. Cream for butter production was supplied from farms in the surrounding Vasse region, and the
butter sold back to locals and further abroad. Old Butter Factory was crucial in making dairying viable in an area beyond the immediate Perth hinterland, allowing for the supply of long-life dairy products to areas over long distances, where products such as milk and cream would not survive.
• Old Butter Factory has the potential, as an educational site, to yield information pertaining to the use of the place as an early butter factory in Western Australia. The Boiler House (1930s) and Stack (1918), and the few remaining
• items relating to the working of the factory, including the Lancashire Boiler and Cream Can Washing Tank, provide insight into the workings of the factory.
• Old Butter Factory is highly valued by the local community as a reminder of a former place of employment, for the important role it played in the local dairy industry and for the produce once available from the place. The building has now acquired contemporary social value for its development as a community based museum and tourist attraction, and as a research centre for the local historical society.
• Old Butter Factory contributes to Busselton community’s sense of place as an important reminder of the establishment and early development of Busselton and the dairy industry in the State, and to a lesser degree as a reminder of the Group Settlement Scheme

Physical Description

The site includes a range of buildings in a large site, part of which includes paved areas to enable the movement of vehicles around the site. The portion of the site adjacent to the river is landscaped with grass and mature trees.The main factory building was constructed with a mixture of face brick and weatherboard clad timber-framed wall to the ground floor and weatherboard clad timber-framed walls to the smaller first floor. Most of the roof is clad with Zincalume sheeting with contrasting ridge capping and gable trim. Gable boards, exposed rafters and verandah posts have been painted to match the steel trim. The main view from Peel Terrace shows the ground floor walls are constructed in stretcher-bond face brickwork, with similar detailing across the four major building campaigns. The first floor walls are timber framed and clad with painted, bevel-edged weatherboards. Careful matching of materials has partly obscured the alterations that are known to have
been undertaken as part of the progressive development of the diary factory – although variations are noticeable at close inspection. The roof is clad with corrugated Zincalume sheeting, with contrasting prepainted steel cappings and gutters. The roof
has a complex form with a mixture of hipped and gabled sections stepped across the façade. Other buildings on the site demonstrate a range of styles and materials. Some have been relocated and others are contemporary structures constructed to support the museum functions

History

The Old Butter Factory was established by the State Government from 1918 to replace the earlier and outdated dairy in the Fairlawn district, which was the first butter factory established in Western Australia. It played an important role in the developing economy following World War I and the introduction of the Group Settlement Scheme. In addition
to making butter, the place provided ice before the introduction of domestic refrigeration. It changed from butter factory to powdered milk factory in 1960 and then to a museum in 1975. The factory was crucial to the development of Busselton as a butter factory and continues to contribute to the town’s vitality in its role as a museum. The building was designed by the Public Works Department under the direction of Chief Architect Hillson Beasley in 1917. Contractor T.J. Green secured the contract with a tender of £1751.10s.6d. In 1921, Premier James Mitchell initiated the Group Settlement Scheme which encouraged the dairy industry. It lead to the expansion of the factory in 1922 and in 1926 the factory was sold to the South West Co-operative Dairy Products Co for £6500. This transfer lead to further expansions of the factory. During World War II the markets changed and many butter factories changed to cheese factories. In 1951 the Busselton
factory ceased making butter and became a cream reciving depot and dried mild processing plant. In c1965 the factory ceased processing dried milk and served as a cold storage depot for trucks and tankers. In 1973, the Busselton depot closed and in 1974 the property was transferred to the Busselton Shire Council. In 1975, the museum opened to the public following changes to the building in the preceding years by the Busselton
Historical Society and Busselton Pottery Group. In the following years there have been ongoing changes to the buildings and site, with the relocation of several building
to the site that tell the story of the development of the City of Busselton In 2018, the building suffered considerable damage through a fire in the second story and many items in the collection were lost. Reconstruction works followed in accordance with good heritage pracrtice which reinstated the original form but with respect to better access requirements

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate/Low

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

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.