Kingston Butter Factory Museum History

photo taken in Kingston Butter Factory Museum

On April 12, 1906, more than 50 dairy farmers from Chambers Flat, Logan Village, Cedar Creek, Tamborine, Pimpama, Coomera and Nerang met to form a co-operative butter factory. At the meeting in Beenleigh Shire Hall, the farmers had a spirited debate concerning the butter factory’s location. In general, everyone agreed on the importance of locating the factory near the railway line and near an adequate supply of water.

After taking a ballot, the committee decided to locate the factory in Kingston. About a year later, Waugh and Josephson built the Southern Queensland Co-operative Dairy Company on a parcel of what used to be James Trahey’s property, spending approximately 3,600 pounds. Within a few years, the co-operative had added several staff cottages, a manager’s residence and a railway siding.

The co-operative began to manufacture butter on May 13, 1907. Several months later, more than 350 shareholders and visitors attending the official opening. The original staff included a butter-maker and a cream tester along with two engineers, two carters and two labourers, and everyone earned approximately 36 pounds per week. However, by 1930 the staff had increased to over 30 employees who manufactured between 40 and 50 tons of butter per week.

The Kingston Butter Factory Community Arts Centre is located on Milky Way, Kingston, Queensland Australia