Tūātapere history - business & industry: Tūātapere Dairy Factory, 1911-1967

Shared by Central & Western Murihiku Southland Archive

Photos of the Tūātapere Dairy Factory on the Half-Mile Road, with details of of Dairy Factory Managers over the years of its operation, 1911-1967: Image 1 - Tūātapere Dairy Factory in early days, c1920's, from D & C Erskine Family Collection, photo in the Public Domain. Image 2 - Tūātapere Dairy Factory in the early days, c1920's, from Des Williams, photo in the Public Domain. Image 3 - Tūātapere Dairy Factory at closing in 1967, note the 'Zephyr Transport' Truck to the right, this company took over the building for some years. Photo shared by Quinton Erskine, taken by his father. Image 4 - Tūātapere Dairy Factory in 1971, from Bill Howden Collection, still in copyright, permission given to use here. Image 5 - The old Tūātapere Dairy Factory now DT Kings Tūātapere Depot, taken by Suzie Best 2023, licensed CC BY, use attribution if sharing. The Tūātapere Dairy Factory was situated (and the building still exists today), on the west bank of the Waiau River, on the Half Mile. It sits opposite to the Tūātapere Domain entrance. In the past, West's first hotel, Traveller's Rest, was said to have sat just behind this factory and this appears verified from early photos which include both buildings. EARLY HISTORY: Prior to the opening of the Tūātapere Dairy Factory, Te Tua Dairy Factory, established in 1897 and sometimes called Te Waewae, started to process the local Waiau farmers milk. From 1904 the Papatotara dairy farmers also started to supply the Te Tua factory. NOTE: this earlier factory can be seen in entry CWA.193.028.002 As the suppliers on the west side of the Waiau were steadily increasing, the idea to build another factory on that side of the river started to be discussed. It is recorded that Papatotara's Bill Arthur was the first to survey support for a new factory more easily accessible to them. This was in 1910 and nothing came of it. But not to be put off, he tried yet again a year later. This time there was more interest and the idea was a success, so the west side farmers got their new factory, as below. A meeting was held Saturday 11th February 1911 with the purpose being the formation of the Tūātapere Dairy Factory Company Ltd. The provisional directors of the company were appointed, Mr. William Arthur, (Chairman) Mr. J Coughlan, (Company Secretary) Mr. A McEwan, H Norman, W Young, H Stuck, J McLean. Mr. Hamilton of the National Bank at Riverton stated that a list of Guarantors had been submitted and 240 cows had been promised for supply with the promise of more. He assured the suppliers there would be no difficulty with finance. The National Bank was appointed as Bankers, the firm of Armstead, Hunter and Tait, (Solicitors) were instructed to register the Company. The contract to build the Tūātapere Dairy Factory was given out in June the same year, with the directors choosing the tender of W Blue for the factory building and the plant was to be supplied by Messrs Wilkins. The current Te Tua factory manager, Robert Windleburn was appointed as manager of the new Tūātapere factory, which was registered in August. The details of the registration were as follows: £2,000 capital in 2,000 shares of £1 each. Shareholders list includes: - JH McLean - W Young - A McEwan - JH Coughlan - HD Norman, 20 shares - W Arthur, 25 shares - HS Stuck, 30 shares The factory will produce butter and other products made from cow milk. Names and events connected to the Factory that are recorded in history are: the Secretary in 1911, who was JH Coughlan. He was to write to the WCC or Wallace County Council to request that they gravel the 4 chains of road in front of the new proposed factory, to keep the dust out of the building. The news of the day carried much excitement about the new factory being build along "the half mile" not far from the Waiau (River). To quote Hugh McFeely, the first teacher, when he arrived in 1910, "The Half Mile Road was dense bush to the edge of the road." So much clearing had to be done before building. The reported intake of daily milk into the factory in 1914 was as much as 678 gallons of milk at the highest point of the season. By February this had dropped to just 460 gallons per day. Also in 1914, the largest supplier to the factory was reported as being W Norman, who was said to have "regularly carted 100 gallons of milk to the factory", which was said to have been about 20% of the entire average intake of 540 gallons a day. Other Papatotara farmers also supplied the factory. As can be seen by early photographs above, horse and cart was the most common method of taking milk to the factory. In 1915, reports are that the factory was to consign its output and the resulting return was around 1s 7d per 1 lb or pound of butter fat, about $29.00 today! There is an interesting item recorded in the news of the day from 1916 that tells us when Archibald Wakefield left the Factory to join up to fight with the 15th Reinforcements in WW1, he was gifted a "fine safety razor" from his employers and workmates. In 1924, W Norman again hits the Tūātapere Dairy Factory news, with having the highest grade test for his milk of all the factory suppliers! It is noted at the same time, that the current intake of the factory was 1300 gallons per day, which was an increase of 100 gallons a day on last season. At this point the factory had installed a pasteuriser plant and all of the product produced from the milk was now in cheese. The 1927 Annual Report declared that the payout for the season was £1 - 1 1/2 per pound of butter fat with a further bonus expected later. There had been 2,510.324 lbs of milk was delivered to the factory in the current season, which translated to 89,647 lbs of butter fat. The Tūātapere Dairy Factory output for the season was 107 tons 14 cwt 2 qrs 20 lbs which was all for cheese which was shipped by the factory. Then in 1928 the local factory reported such a deluge of milk being delivered that they were having to work an extra shift to process it! In the 1930 year the Tūātapere Dairy Factory board reported the cheese market had been very depressed. They still had 682 crates of cheese left to sell. They had made 144 tons 5 cwt of cheese that year from 3,124,113 lbs of milk, which had yielded 117, 708.61 lbs of butter fat. The report continued to say that all factories who had sold all their cheese on consignment this year did not do so well, and it had been prudent on the part of the local factory to not do this that season. In 1933 the Tūātapere Dairy Factory staff put on their second ever Annual Ball at Lawson's Hall, but it is not clear when the first one was. Des Williams book on 'The Hole In The Bush' notes that during the 1950's was the height of the dairy factory, as farmers at this time would milk cows while working on developing their pasture to take sheep. In 1935 it is noted that A M Lemon had been appointed as first assistant at the Tūātapere Dairy Factory, while W D Rodger was put in as the new second assistant. Of further note is that there were 36 applications!! The managers of the Tūātapere Dairy Factory over the years are as below, and huge appreciation to our researcher Pam for doing this: ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1911-1927, 1930-1935 - Robert John Windelburn, first factory manager: His first accommodation was at the Waiau Hotel, both he and the company secretary were there for some time before a manager's house was built. Robert John Windelburn was born 27th February 1882 in Marton NZ, of German born parents, Ludwig Wendelborn and Anna nee Lampp. His father anglicised the name to Windelburn. In 1908 Robert was managing a creamery in Marton. By 1911, he was the cheese and butter maker at Tūātapere, and manager. He held Boiler and Steam Engine Licences and did all the factory repairs. He met Amy Florence Synnott who was living at Te Wae Wae, listed as spinster, Amy was born 15th June 1886 at Hāwera. They married on 6th August 1913 at St Mary's Church Hawera and had one child a daughter Joan born 1921. In 1927 the little family moved to Teschmakers near Oamaru; the town held a farewell for them. By 1930 they were back in Tūātapere with Robert listed in the NZ City and Area Directories as Factory Manager. Joan was attending the local school and her mother Amy was reported as playing musical accompaniment at the school. In December 1935 they had an auction and sold all their household goods and chattels and moved away. The 1938 electoral roll has them living at Dairy Flat near Waitematā and Robert was farming, in 1954 they were in Papatoetoe, in 1957 Manukau. Robert passed away 12th July 1963, Amy passed away 24th June 1962. They are interred at Purewa Cemetery Meadowbank. NOTE: Electoral Rolls have the spelling Windelburn, headstone has Windleburn ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1940's to before 1950 - James Spencer Morrison: James was born 27th August 1903. Died 12th December 1977 aged 74, retired dairy factory manager. He was the son of John Morrison and Annie Spencer of Bluff. It is presumed he first attended school in Bluff. Married 14th May 1931, his wife Ann Emma Rebecca Ladbrook b. 1912, died in 1983. They are buried together at the Eastern Cemetery Invercargill and the headstone has the following inscription: ‘In loving memory of James Spencer Morrison 1903 – 1977, direct descendant of James Spencer, founder of Bluff: also, his dearly loved wife Ann Emma Rebecca 1912 – 1983. (There is a Māori motif listed as inscribed on the stone, no photo available.) James Spencer Morrison and Ann had two sons and two daughters who were all talented people. The obituary of their eldest son Spencer Edward Morrison born 1932 died 2017, mentions his father was a talented carver. Spencer Edward Morrison was also instrumental along with MP Mark Peck, in obtaining a pardon for a WW 1 family member Victor Manson Spencer, 8/2733, 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment. Executed for desertion, 24 February 1918. (see more of this story further below): In 1935 James was at Orepuki Dairy Co-Op, aged 31 in his 3rd year as Manager, he had previously been at Rimu, Lochiel and Ryal Bush. He was 1st assistant for a year at Orepuki and 1932 when it became a Co-Op was made Manager. In 1935 his little factory which produced approx. 225 tons of cheese a year, won a Gold Medal at the British Empire Championship at the London Dairy Show. Wyndham and Thornbury were 2nd & 3rd respectively. A silver challenge cup awarded by Lord Bledisloe was given. In 1936 the factory was the Reserve Champion in the cheese section. James and Ann are listed as living at Orepuki until 1943, after that there is a gap, then in 1946 they are listed as residing in Tūātapere where James' had an occupation of Cheesemaker. I can only presume at this time he was managing the Tūātapere factory. In 1949 they are living in Kennington and he is listed as Factory Manager. In 1954, occupation was manager at Kennington. In the late 1960s James and Ann were in Otatara, 1966 he was still listed as Kennington Dairy Factory Manager, in 1972 James was a caretaker. Passed away 1977. About James Spencer, Early Settler: The first European to settle at Bluff was James Spencer, a veteran of Waterloo. James was on board the Cossack when it was wrecked whilst leaving the Hokianga harbour on 27 April 1823. Along with the other survivors, he scrambled exhausted, and half clothed across land for five days until they reached the Christian mission station at Kerikeri in the northern Bay of Islands. James worked for the mission station in return for his keep until he could get passage back to Sydney. However he became caught up in the mission’s power struggles and infighting and was refused passage on the next available ship. Four months later, James was on the whaling ship Brampton when that ship too was wrecked as she attempted to sail out of the Bay on 1 November 1823. Being no longer under the care of the mission James was forced to sleep on the beach until some of the crew of the Dragon smuggled him onto the ship in the night. Dragon sailed from the Bay with James on board. During the voyage Captain Walker discovered the stowaway and made threats against them. Once in Sydney, the Dragon’s crew took him to Captain Beveridge’s ship St Michael. James arrived back in New Zealand in 1824 on board the St Michael as a member of Johnny Jones Waikouaiti based whaling team. The following year he returned to establish a permanent home. James built the first European house in Southland. He bought land from local Māori and cleared 24 hectares for cultivation before importing a herd of cattle. Finally, he set up a fishing station where he employed a total of 21 Europeans and Māori. Spencer was soon joined by other settlers and the nucleus of the town was formed. Māori living in the Bluff area were subjected to European influence long before those in most other parts of New Zealand. Very few of Bluff’s early settlers had European wives. Intermarriage between the Māori and British, Norwegian and Portuguese arrivals occurred. Bluff grew to become a popular haven among whalers and the production and sale of supplies to meet the needs of both whalers and sealers, provided the basis for the town’s further development. In 1846 James died at sea while returning from a trip to Sydney. MEMORIAL: Erected in the year 2000 By the descendants of one of Southlands earliest pioneers James Spencer Who founded Bluff in January 1824 Established a whaling station in 1839 And died at sea 1846 His wife Meri Kauri Was born at Otakou in 1816 And was buried at this site 20 April 1876 Mother of James and William Spencer. Background to Victor Manson Spencer, WW1 Army No: 8/2733, 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, Executed, 24 February 1918: Born in Ōtautau, Southland, in 1896, Victor Spencer was the only child of James and Mary Spencer. A descendant of the first Pākehā settler at Bluff, James Spencer, and his Ngāi Tahu wife Meri Kauri, Victor lost both his parents when he was young and was cared for by his aunt, Sarah Goomes. Upon leaving school, he became an apprentice engineer in Bluff and was the cox of a local rowing crew. In April 1915, Victor enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The 18-year-old claimed to be 20 – the minimum age for recruits. He joined the Otago Battalion as a private and by November was at Gallipoli for the last stage of the ill-fated campaign. After a period of rest and recuperation in Egypt the New Zealand forces were re-organised and in April 1916 Victor departed for the Western Front with the New Zealand Division. The division was based first at Armentieres, a relatively quiet sector of the front, where they adjusted to the new conditions of warfare. On the night of 9–10 July Victor endured a heavy enemy bombardment – an experience that defined the rest of his war service. Wounded, he was evacuated to a field ambulance and found to be also suffering from ‘shell shock’. When he was sent back to the trenches after a few weeks in hospital, he immediately went missing. Victor was caught by the Military Police on 12 August and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour. In June 1917 his sentence was suspended, and he returned to his unit. Two months later he went missing again. He was found on 2 January 1918, living with a French woman and her two children, and was charged with desertion. At a court martial, Victor recounted his experience at Armentières, stating, ‘[since then my health has not been good, and my nerve has been completely destroyed.’] The court decided not to call for medical evidence in relation to this claim and instead found him guilty. He was sentenced to ‘suffer death by being shot’. Early on the morning of 24 February 1918 Victor Spencer was executed by a firing squad. His grave lies in The Huts Cemetery, near Ieper in Belgium, and he is remembered on the war memorial in Bluff. In 2000, Spencer and the other four New Zealand soldiers executed during the war were pardoned by the government. Further information can be found here: 1. Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph record – Victor Spencer 2. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record - Victor Spencer 3. The executed five – Great War Story 4. First New Zealand soldier executed, 25 August 1916 5. Pardon for Soldiers of the Great War Act 2000 6. Victor Spencer – the spirit lives on 7. Christopher Pugsley, On the fringe of hell: New Zealanders and military discipline in the First World War, Hodder & Stoughton, Auckland, 1991 ------------------------------------------------------------------ * Manager, Robert (Bob) Charles Walker born 1903 in Dunedin, NZ. In 1925 he was a Dairy Assistant at the Waikouaiti Dairy Factory. Married on 23rd May 1932 to Gertrude Jean Humphrey Hamilton who was born 18th September 1910, at Arrowtown, who died 11th November 1996 at Timaru. Their first home was in Palmerston, they moved to Eltham in the North Island for a couple of years, and Robert was employed at the factory by the Joll Dairy Company until 1935. In 1935 Robert was appointed 1st Assistant at Tūātapere, and in 1936 he was the Manager. Between 1938 and 1943, Robert is still listed as living in Tūātapere, occupation Tūātapere Dairy Factory Manager. By 1946 he was a Dairy Instructor living in Temuka. Robert Died 19th May 1984 at Temuka. He and Gertrude had one child, a daughter. ------------------------------------------------------------------ *Ashley Sydney Kidd born 10th Feb 1909 Ōtautau, was a Manager at Tūātapere. He Attended Southland Boys High School 1922- 1924. Mr Kidd been a Blacksmith in Winton c 1929, and maybe even earlier, to about 1930. In 1931 – 1935 he was living at Lochiel and listed as a Dairy Factory Assistant. By 1938 he was at Seaward Downs as a Dairy Factory Assistant. Then in 1938 a Miss Rita May Warnock, born 4th May 1917 at Timaru, was found living at Morton Mains. The couple obviously met and by 1941 Ashley & Rita were married and living at Glenham, Ashley is a Dairy Factory Assistant, and they were still there in 1943 possibly till 1946. Then from 1946 to 1949 they were in Waimahaka, Ashley is listed as Dairy Factory Assistant. Late 1949 they are seen living in Milton and Ashley is Factory Manager, electoral rolls have him there to 1954, but it could have been longer. Then between 1957 to 1960 and possibly a year or two more, Ashley is Cheesemaker and Manager in Tūātapere. From 1963 to 1978 he and Rita are living in North Road Waikiwi Invercargill and Ashley is listed as a Fitter. In 1981 and still living in North Road, he is listed as a caretaker. Ashley and Rita had five children. Ashley Died 4th Sept 1997 and Rita died 2nd September 1988, their ashes are interred in the Southland Crematorium gardens. ------------------------------------------------------------------ More information is needed on the following two managers if anyone else can help us out with this please? *The name Mr. Stirling was given to us; the NZ City and Area Directories 1866- 1954 has a James Stirling, occupation, Manager of the Tūātapere Dairy Factory living in Tūātapere between 1946 and 1950, he appears to have been there until 1954/1955 possibly longer. We have now had confirmation from George Stirling sent to us, as below: "My father was manager, Jim Stirling 1946-53. Jack McKay was first assistant 1948-1952 approx." We have asked for more information and will put this up when we get it. * Harry Swain, electoral rolls place Mr. Harry Swain (Snr) and Mr. Harry Swain (Jnr) in Tūātapere 1963-1966, their occupations were listed as Cheesemaker. A Mrs. Elsie Swain is also listed. They moved away to Mataura sometime after the factory closed in 1967. ------------------------------------------------------------------ LATER HISTORY: In 1961, the Tūātapere Dairy Factory 50th Jubilee was held in the township, but by 1967 it was closed down. We have been told, and Linsey Bennett has confirmed, that after the local Dairy factory closure, the Tūātapere milk was transported to Ōtautau for a few years for processing, before it too was closed down. Their comments are as follows: "Yes, it is true, when the Tuatapere Dairy Factory closed down and amalgamated with the Otautau Dairy Factory, all milk was processed at Otautau. I can remember going through the milk Factory and seeing the vats filled with milk and getting processed into cheese as a child. It was where Kings have their depot at Otautau. Then they amalgamated with Edendale Dairy factory." Thank you Linsey for confirming this story. The closures of all these small factories mentioned, and others across Murihiku Southland, was due to the centralising and amalgamation of all the local dairy factories over at the new Edendale plant, which still operates today. When the factory closed in 1967 the building and surrounding site was taken over by Zephyr Contracting. Other than their truck being shown in the photo above at the closing, we have not really been able to find out anything about them, so if you can help fill in the blanks, please let us know. The factory is now under the ownership of DT Kings Co Ltd and is used as the Tūātapere Depot for this locally based district wide trucking company. The building is now covered in iron and this is most likely due to deterioration of the original wood planks. Shared community memories: Anne Fenwick recalls, "Great memories of my father dropping off left over milk after finishing the milk run. We were allowed in the factory often eating a handful of rubbery curd chips. 1963-4. My father was Alf Waelen. He got his milk directly from Brian Thwaites dairy farm om Papatotara Rd. One of the last Can and billy runs in NZ". Peter Templeton also recalls, how he used to get the Curd for fishing at the Waiau River, back when it had a healthy flow and the water was fresh. Note: It seems that the Curd was useful for a lot of things! Gaylene Bennet also remembers, "about going through the otautau factory too...seeing the big vats. We brought one when they closed and it was placed up at our cowshed for whey to go into." And Linsey Bennett also has some fascinating history to share, saying: "we have the Jersey Cows... Their ancestors would have supplied the Tuatapere Dairy Factory! My Grandparents when they bought the farm on Groveburn Road in 1950. They had the milk run for Tuatapere where they milked the cows and put it into cans and people would leave the Billy's at their gate and they would ladle the milk into the Billy. They had the milk run in Tui for three years. My Grandfather Bill Bennett was Chairman when it (the factory) closed down. He reread the minutes of them when he was in his eighties and used to tell us what had happened but unfortunately we never really listened to him and now that I am older I really regret that." Note: we are currently trying to track down these minutes so we can add to the historical account written here - Archivist. More information about this early 1900's industry and the site itself will be added shortly. In the meantime, please share your memories of this dairy factory and stories of any of those supplying it over the years that you know and let us know if you have any more photos, please. You can do this by adding a comment at the bottom of the image page or contact us.