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Warrnambool Cheese & Butter

Warrnambool Cheese & Butter

The Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory Coy Ltd (WCB) was registered on 28 May 1888 and is Australia’s oldest dairy company.

Founded by a group of merchants and businessmen from Warrnambool the company was in production no less than six months from their first meeting. Milk used in production was sourced from a small number of local dairy farmers of which in 1889, all suppliers became shareholders. The payment for milk was approximately 4 pence per gallon (4.5 litres).

Construction of the original factory buildings was completed on 13 September, 1888 and the official opening took place on 14 November, 1888. The original 1888 factory buildings were demolished in 1897 and replaced by more modern and suitable premises. Unfortunately, on 25 November, 1913 these buildings were destroyed by fire, subsequently resulting in the erection of another new building, which was officially opened on 3 September, 1914 by Premier John Murray.

Creameries began operating in 1890 at Mepunga East, Nirranda and at Lake Gillear the following year. The first butter shipment from Victoria to London occurred in September 1893, with WCB butter comprising 80 boxes (approximately 10 tonne) of the consignment. WCB commenced cheese production in August 1893 and by 1895, milk production from WCB’s 180 milk suppliers reached 10,000 gallons or 45,000 litres per day.

Warrnambool Facility today

Today WCB’s products include cheese, butter and butter blends, milk, cream and other dairy ingredients which are sold in Australia and to various customers around the world under well-known brand names including Sungold®COON®Cracker Barrel®*, Mil Lel®and Great Ocean Road Dairy™. Sales are across both the domestic and export markets.


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