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]

Dairy machinery at Kingston Butter Factory

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. 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. "Kingston Butter Factory". Logan City Council. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  5. 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. "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

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