Kiama Pioneer Butter Factory
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The Kiama Pioneer Butter Factory was erected in 1883 and later officially opened on 18 June 1884[1] in Kiama, New South Wales. It is credited with being the first factory in Australia to use cream separators, a machine that would transform processing techniques in the dairy industry. The Kiama Pioneer Butter Factory was also the first factory in Australia to make a shipment of butter to Great Britain.
A ceremony to commemorate the official opening of the factory was held on 18 June 1884. At the ceremony, the cream separator was christened by Mr. W. Grey, Chairman of Directors. The separator was immediately put to use with 40 gallons of milk separated in 20 minutes. Following the official ceremony, a dinner was held with Mr. W. Grey presiding and Mr. James Colley, Mayor, and D. L. Dymock in the vice-chairs. Speeches were made by Mr. W. Grey, James Colley, D. L. Dymock, J. Weston and R. Miller.[2]
Though absent from the period of construction of the factory owing to his travels in Europe and the United States in search of innovations in dairy practices and machinery, Mr. D. L. Dymock - a prominent figure in the early dairy industry in Australia- made the following comment in a speech given at the ceremony: "Although I have not the honour of being on the Pioneer Factory Company, I nevertheless had the pleasure of being in London on the Aylesbury Dairy Company's premises and saw the Pioneer separators being packed for shipment to Australia. My pleasure, if not my pride, was intensified when on inquiry, I was told that these separators were destined for a place known as Kiama on the South Coast of New South Wales.[3]
The building used for the Pioneer Butter Factory was purchased by the Fresh Food and Ice Company for use as a milk depot, in 1897. It fell into disuse when the attraction of the Sydney markets drew milk supplies from surrounding farms away from the factory.
The precise date of the closure of the factory is not known, however, it is written to have occurred in the early part of the twentieth century.[4] The factory building was demolished in 1936.