Dairy machinery at Kingston Butter Factory

The Kingston Butter Factory is a community arts centre in Kingston, Queensland, Australia. It is located adjacent to the Kingston railway station. The factory underpinned the local dairying industry for six decades.[1]

It is currently closes for refurbishment. Original plans for an innovation hub were scrapped.[2] The new plans include an outdoor staged area capable of holding 5,000 people.[3] A co-operative and historical society has temporarily relocated off-site.

History

The original building was first constructed in 1907.[4] Construction was undertaken by Waugh and Josephson.[5] The factory also made milk, cottage cheese and baker's cheese.[4] Until the late 1950s the factory was operated as a co-operative. The factory was patronized by the Australian businessmen and politician William Stephens.

Original plans for a manufacturing plant in the area emerged in 1900.[6] The goal was to export products to Europe.[6] In 1906, a public meeting at Beenleigh Shire Hall saw around 50 dairy farmers gather. A ballot was held and a site near the railway with a good water supply was selected.[5] In 1911, a railway siding for the factory was built.[5] A modern brick building was built atop the old wooden structure in 1932.[5]

The weekly output of butter was between 40 and 50 tonnes by 1930.[5] Peak production was reached in 1934.[5] In July 1950, the Kingston Butter Factory registered as a wholesale milk vendor.[1]

The factory was closed in 1983. After funding by Logan City Council in 1998 it was transformed into a community arts centre.[4] It was formerly home to a theatre company.[7] The outdoor stage for entertainment launched[8] in March 2022, with The Butterbox Theatre and Living Museum set to open mid-year 2022.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Howells, Mary (2006). Ridge to Ridge: Recollections from Woodridge to Park Ridge. Logan City Council. pp. 38, 99. ISBN 0-9750519-2-X.
  2. ↑ "Work Begins on Kingston Butter Factory Arts Hub". The Urban Developer. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Kingston Butter Factory redevelopment boost". 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Kingston Butter Factory". Logan City Council. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Starr, Joan (1988). Logan, the man, the river and the city. Tenterfield, New South Wales: Southern Cross PR and Press Services. pp. 56, 57, 59. ISBN 0958802114.
  6. 1 2 "Butter to Broadway". Logan City Council. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "Kingston Butter Factory". Weekend Notes. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Our Logan: KBF Cultural Precinct Launch Party". Our Logan. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.

27°39′29″S 153°07′14″E / 27.65806°S 153.12056°E / -27.65806; 153.12056

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