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The history of the Kingston Butter Factory dates back to
1906, when a public meeting of dairying men was held at
Beenleigh Shire Hall on April 12. More than 50 dairy
farmers from all over the district, including Nerang,
Coomera, Pimpama, Tamborine, Cedar Creek, Logan Village
and Chambers Flat, attended the meeting with the
objective of forming a co-operative butter factory.
There was
much debate at the meeting concerning the location of
the proposed company, which was later named the Southern
Queensland Co-operative Dairy Company. It was agreed
that the site had to be near an adequate water supply
and the railway line. A ballot was taken and Kingston
was the choice. The site of the butter factory took up
part of James Trahey's property - the first selection of
the area.
The factory
was built by Waugh and Josephson at a cost of around
£3,600 and the manufacture of butter commenced on May
13, 1907. The official opening took place later that
year with more than 350 shareholders and visitors
present. The staff included a butter-maker, two
engineers, a cream tester, two carters and two labourers,
with the total weekly wage amounting to 36 pounds. Over
the next few years, a manager's residence and several
cottages for staff were built on the site, and 4 years
after the factory opened, a railway siding was provided
for the company. By 1930, weekly output was 40 to 50
tons, with more than 30 employees.
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