The New Tumut Butter Factory

10 February 1905 The Tumut and Adelong Times

We feel that we can see a prosperous future in store for this district now that the dairying industry shows a probability of being established on a proper and systematic principal.

Mr. W. D. P. O'Brien, with the good foresight he is possessed of, did grand service to the district when he established the Rosebank Factory, which first gave an inducement to people to test the profits attached to butter-making.

They found the undertaking a most lucrative one, but it was confined to a large extent to the Gilmore, for dairymen to the south, east, and north of the town of Tumut were handicapped in having to travel long distances with their cream or milk. 

We hope that producers will increase up Gilmore way, and that the first dairy started will receive full encouragement to keep on, as we are sure it will do,

Of late, since the Tumut railway line has been opened, cream has been sent in a number of instances all the way to the Cootamundra factory, and the returns received, after paying freight, have been very satisfactory indeed. That being so, we are justified in saving that our depressed locality is going to boom, for trainage fees are going to be saved  amounting to about a fifth of the value of the consignments.

We Know, also, that cream is coming to the Tumut Factory from districts beyond Adelong and Gundagai, because it can be sent by train arriving here at midday and be treated at once, whereas, when forwarded to adjoining districts, the time of arrival of the train is rather inconvenient. 

Mr. Robinson, of Kimo, who is a shareholder in the local company, has signified his intention of sending to Tumut; but the Kimo dairy has received a setback by the late fire, and it will be a little time perhaps before a fresh begin- ning is made there. 

We paid a visit of inspection to the Tumut Butter Factory on Friday last, and were courteously shown over the establishment by Mr Jas. Hammond, who has charge of the undertaking, and in him a first class hand has been secured. 

He has had 11 years of experience at the business, having begun at the industry in Victoria.

He came here from the Cootamundra factory, but previous to his engagement there he was manager for three years of the Manning River works, where they turned out 20 tons of butter a week.

He considers this district superior to the Manning River for dairying, if people will only practice a proper system.

On being asked if he did not think the climate was rather severe, the cold in winter and heat in summer, he said that Gippsland was one of the best dairying districts known, and there he had seen maize crops destroyed by a severe frost on Christmas Eve.

Denmark, where frost and snow are very severe, was also quoted.

He stated that, if people want to make a success of dairying they must rug their cows at night during the severe parts of winter, and take care to provide green feed for the summer months.

On the matter of treating cows properly, Professor Sloane, of the Maryland Station, says that cows well treated and properly fed have developed wonderfully.

Relative to one batch of cows purchased in the country he says:- "They were stabled, curried, as is a horse, every day in the year, and received a liberal feed of grain every day they were in milk, both winter and summer. On this treatment the cows commenced to improve.

Not in the first year was it so noticeable, but in subsequent years there was constant increase in the amount of milk, and in the amount of butter made from this milk. 

In the five years that the herd had been at the station some good records have been made from cows that did not promise at first to ever be able to pay their feed.

One cow made 200lb. of butter the first year, and 450lb. the fifth year, and this though she was old enough at the time she was bought to lead to the conclusion that she was, or should have been, in her prime as a dairy animal. 

This was the best record made, but only one cow in the herd failed to respond to our treatment, and she was so evidently of the beef type that we did not feel that her record was against our conclusion in the least." 

The factory building here was erected by Mr. A. W. Lowe, who deserves much credit for the superior class of workmanship shown in the structure.

At the price he undertook the contract it was predicted he could not carry it out in accordance with specifications; but, whether he lost by it or not, we are sure the directors could not feel other than well pleased with the work.

Mr Lowe has come here to stay if he can get encouragement, and he has established a reputation as a builder that will recommend his services to anyone.

There are two floors to the factory building, which is set on a very solid foundation of brick on concrete, under the main building, and a wing stands on wooden blocks, with patent cap to prevent any water getting into the wood.

The height of the foundation has been so arranged; that a platform run out from the first floor to the level of a railway track, so that the matter of loading and unloading can be attended to on the same principle as at the station goods shed, from which a line of rails run along to the factory, distant about 100 yards from the rail way station.

The officer in charge of our railway, Mr. Reece, is of an exceedingly obliging disposition, as all parties who have business to do at the station can testify, and he extends his good fellowship to the factory people, perceiving that by giving encouragement, where he can, to the undertaking he is helping along the best interests of the district.

Any cream, &c., consigned to the Tumut factory, therefore, he despatches to the works immediately on arrival of the train containing same. 

The internal portions of the building were described by us some time ago, from the plans made out.

They consist of engine room, four cooling chambers, two rooms for receiving and repairing cream, an office, store-room, test room, and large room wherein suppliers deposit their cream for weighing and testing.