The Milang Lakeside Butter Factory was opened on July 3rd, 1893 and was an important part of the Milang & districts agricultural businesses into the 1960’s although it has not always been smooth sailing.

The Lakeside Butter Factory was opened by Buckland and Lipson. It closed in 1904 but was reopened in 1915 by Murphy Fromen & Co. when the latest equipment was installed. At this time cream was brought from Meningie twice a week on the P.S. Jupiter.

The original building consisted of the round roofed stone building but was added to in 1915 and by the 1920s the factory had been enlarged with corrugated iron outbuildings and was owned by South Australian Farmers’ Union.

The factory is an icon building for Milang overlooking the lake from its vantage point on Tod’s Hill, D’Aranda Tce  The building is listed as a State Heritage Place on the South Australian Heritage Register.  It comes with the adjacent Managers Cottage which is in sound condition, Baltic Pine within, corrugated iron out.

Milang and District Community Association and the community are extremely grateful to Alexandrina Council for the financial support of $325,000 grant from Alexandrina Council which together with MADCA funds enabled purchase of the property on 29th July 2016.

In undertaking research on the butter factory there have been some key values that underpinned the factory and which are as relevant to this community today as they were then – COOPERATION, PERSEVERANCE, EXCELLENCE, & INNOVATION.

Cooperation

Courtesy of the State Library of SA

1893 – A public meeting was held in the Institute this evening under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Bureau. Messrs. Sand ford and Molineux, of Adelaide, spoke at some length on the dairying industry and the export trade, pointing out the advantages of co-operation. There was a good attendance. Both speakers received an attentive hearing. At the close of the public meeting a meeting of dairymen and farmers was held, when Mr. Buckland, proprietor of the Lakeside Butter Factory offered to turn the factory into a co-operative concern. Mr. Sandford mentioned that all the butter from the Lakeside Factory—2J tons—had been passed by the expert for a bonus. Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 – 1912), Thursday 5 October 1893, page 3

Excellence

1894 -The Lakeside Butter Factory is busy with a large consignment of butter for the West. Some twelve hundred tins are being filled ready for shipment, and the ‘ put up’ of the article is all that can be desired: Thus in more ways than one the goldfields are proving helpful to South Australian industries.  Southern Argus 30th August 1894

1894 – We have now the pleasure to refer to another factory which is very rapidly pushing to the front— the Milang one, which is owned and run by Messrs. Buckland and Lipson, and which has recently opened auxiliary creameries at Queen’s Own Town and Meningie. The firm is composed of highly energetic men, and though they have been combined but a little time, they are leaving no stone un turned to make the Lakeside brand of butter bring a high price, and the milk suppliers support them extensively. Already their product brings a good price in the City and English market, and as the milk supplies, are so rapidly increasing that it is expected by the end of next month no less than 2,000 gallons per day will be treated, an idea may be formed of the prospects of the venture. We heartily wish the proprietors success— we know they’ll deserve it. Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA : 1866 – 1954), Thursday 30 August 1894, page 2

Innovation

1906 – The Milang factory, conducted by Mr. Pasche, was receiving good support, and he was now engaged in installing a Linde refrigerator in order to successfully cope with his increasing milk supplies. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Saturday 8 December 1906, page 17

1919 -The Farmers’ Union has gradually extended its operations in various direction until it has become one of the largest business establishments of its kind in the State. The latest addition to the activities of the union has been made by the purchase of the business of Messrs. Murphy, Fromen  & Co., of Pirie Street, produce merchants, including the butter factories at Orroroo, Woodside, Milang, and Meadows and the cheese factory at Hindmarsh Island. Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1931), Thursday 4 September 1919, page 6

Photo courtesy of Milang and District Historical Society

1941 – PROPOSED CHEESE FACTORY FOR MILANG

A very large number of residents of the Milang district and other towns attended a meeting in the Milang Institute Hall recently for the purpose of approaching the South Australian Farmers’ Union to manufacture cheese at their local factory. Mr. K. Turvey occupied the chair. Mr. T. G. Vaughton outlined the case for the dairymen and preliminary steps already taken. Mr. T. Yelland, a director of the South Australian Farmers’ Union said that the subject would receive full consideration when the necessary data had been presented to the company. Mr. A. A. Osborne, manager of the dairy produce department of the Farmers’ Union, gave a comprehensive address on the butter and cheese business. At the conclusion of the meeting a vote was taken which resulted in a majority for cheese manufacture. It was decided to canvas the district with a view to obtaining (the quantity of milk available for cheese, and the method of suitable transport to the factory. These facts’ will then, be submitted to the Farmers’ Union for consideration. Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA : 1866 – 1954), Wednesday 13 August 1941, page 5

Perseverance

1894 – The glory of Milang has departed, and even its most patriotic inhabitant cannot but admit that since the construction of the railway to Overland Corner and the establishment of similar means of communication between Adelaide and Murray Bridge the township has been on the down grade. Still there is a silver lining to every cloud, and in this instance it is provided in the shape of the Lakeside Butter Factory. Although it has not been established for any length of time, the produce of this particular factory has deservedly gained a high reputation, not only locally, but in the home market. In fact, the owners have recently received communications from Germany, and from Hull, in Yorkshire, enquiring whether it would not be possible to export direct to these places, and they hope that satisfactory arrangements will be made towards this end. We were shown over the factory on our return journey, and had an opportunity of sampling the butter, which was pronounced to be excellent in every respect. The country in the neighborhood is eminently suited for keeping dairy cattle, which do exceedingly well in the swampy lands surrounding the lake. Everything in the factory is constructed on the most approved and latest fashion, the machinery being run by a four- horsepower engine. South Australian Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1895), Saturday 4 August 1894, page 6

1905 – The local butter factory, after being closed for some months, is now working actively, and promises to soon regain its old-time good reputation for butter producing. The new owner, Mr. Paschke, late of Strathalbyn, has a good reputation, and has already secured the support of the majority of dairymen in the district. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Saturday 14 January 1905, page 14

1914-1918 The Milang Butter factory was owned by Mr Murphy Fromen and Co Ltd. And managed by Mr Joseph Alfred Morcom.  J Morcom also managed the Hindmarsh Island factory for time, from 1914.

Boats Across the Lake 2001, Milang and District Historical Society.