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Former Butter Factory

Location Gelantipy Main Road,, BUCHAN VIC 3885 - Property No B6205 File Number B6205 Level Local

[1/1] B6205 Butter Factory

Statement of Significance

Buchan Butter Factory is significant historically at a local level. It may be significant architecturally at a higher level if further research is undertaken. It is a prominently situated building of poured or reinforced (pise?) concrete with a variety of roof styles immediately visible from the Caves Road bridge over the Buchan River on the north side of the town. Built in 1921 to replace an earlier milk processing plant, its site on the edge of the river beside rich grazing flats is a typical location for many Gippsland dairy industry buildings.
It contains many of the elements of early industry architecture, the ventilated ridge roof, cellar dug into the adjoining hillside with elevated platform to ease unloading problems but the materials used, predominantly pressed concrete, are unusual in butter factories.
Later additions follow the 1930's industrial proforma of saw tooth or gable roofing lines. One of many Gippsland cooperatives which quickly moved into private ownership its erratic trading history, in spite of producing prize winning products, is typical of many similar Gippsland butter factories.
Classified: 12/06/1991