Margaret River Butter Factory (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Margaret River Butter factory (former) is of significance: • For its key role in the development of the dairy industry and production in the region.

Physical Description

The old Butter factory is a large, single storey rectangular building under a gable roof (reclad in red Colorbond), with a smaller gable wing extending north near the street frontage. The end facing the street is now occupied by a café and greengrocers, while the main factory floor appears to be used for warehousing and light industrial purposes.The lower walls are constructed of stretcher bond brick (painted green and with evidence of localised fretting and impact damage), above which they are clad with square-edged weatherboards (painted cream).The main façade has an elevated verandah with a raked roof and has been adapted for modern commercial occupancies (both of which feature exposed timber trusses within the retail areas). The side facades have a mixture of roller doors (with evidence of old sliding door mechanisms fixed externally) and both fixed timber framed, and sliding aluminium framed, windows. The northern façade in particular has been heavily modified.The area around the building has been developed with sealed carparks and service areas. The main landscapeelements are 2 mature palms placed symmetrically at the centre of the street frontage.

History

The Group Settlement Scheme (1921-1929) was an initiative of Sir James Mitchell and aimed to open up the sparsely populated south west of the State for dairying in order to reduce dependence on imports from interstate. The scheme, while largely a failure, did help to support the opening up of the area for new rural development, the establishment of town centres and the development of local industries. With a new and growing population the Margaret River Progress Association was reformed in 1929: A meeting of the progress and Agricultural Society was held in the Agricultural Hall on November 3, and was largely attended. The chief topic was the proposal to ask for the establishment of a butter factory at Margaret. Colonel Brazier and Mr. B. Prowse, who were invited by the Progress Association, addressed the meeting at length. They are directors of South-West co-operative dairy products, and they strongly advised that the time was not yet ripe for the erection of a factory at Margaret, although they admitted that the cream coming in from the district was increasing rapidly. Colonel Brazier spoke in praise of the way the pastures had improved on the groups in this district in the past two years, and predicted that it would be a great dairying district in the not distant future. In June 1930 tenders were called by South-West Cooperative Dairy Products, Ltd. for the erection of an up-to-date butter factory at Margaret River. The company also decided to have new offices added to the local factory. Nine tenders were received and Mr. E. P. Clarke was accepted with the work begun immediately. A manager, Mr Coates, was put in charge of operations by August 1930. Fifteen tons of butter could be stored in the cool rook ready for overnight transport via rails to Perth and Fremantle. The factory eventually stopped making butter but continued to service the dairy industry as a cheese factory from 1952. With the granting of dairy milk quotas for liquid milk to the southern portion of the district in 1971, further changes were made to the system and the old factory became a receiving depot for the produce being then delivered to factories elsewhere. This continued until 1977, when it became a fruit and vegetable market. New dairy factory premises were erected further south along the Station Road in the early 1980s. Internal changes have occurred but the form of the building remains as originally built.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low: The use has been altered and the original use cannot be readily discerned. Medium: The place has had some alterations, but the original intent/character is still clearly evident

Condition

Good to Poor (varies between tenancies) *Assessed from streetscape survey only

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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