DAYBORO DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC. Oct09
Est. 2004
This month’s topics:
Where was Bert Bell’s saddlery business years ago?
Dayboro Butter Factory
and More on last month’s photograph . . .
CAN YOU HELP? Recently we had an enquiry at “Dayboro Cottage” from a gentleman who said that his father, Bert Bell, was a saddler in Dayboro about 70 to 75 years ago (sometime in the 1930s). Apparently, he lived in Brisbane (Nundah or some such place) with his wife and family and came to Dayboro, staying here during the week and running a saddlery business and returning to his family home for the weekend. Does anyone recall this man, or know where his business was situated? If so, please give me a ring. One of the things that our Society is trying to do is to identify the businesses that have operated in the town over the years.
LAST MONTH’S PHOTOGRAPH (reprinted below) – Mt. Pleasant Cage Dip: We have been given names for some of the men in the photograph. Charles Thomas Williams (the first settler at Mt. Pleasant in 1874) is leaning on the post in the middle of the photograph. Conrad Buhmann is the man on the horse. Ben French is one of the two men sitting on the dip and Herman Kuhn Snr. is another of the men in the photograph but we don’t know which one. We only need another six names and positive identification of Ben French and Herman Kuhn Snr. The photograph was taken c. 1901.
DAYBORO BUTTER FACTORY: The Silverwood Butter Factory opened on 21st September 1903. It was taken over by the Terrors Creek-Samsonvale Co-operative Dairy Factory Co. in 1916. The following is an article which appeared in the “Brisbane Courier” on 16th May, 1929:-
LAST MONTH’S PHOTOGRAPH (reprinted below) – Mt. Pleasant Cage Dip: We have been given names for some of the men in the photograph. Charles Thomas Williams (the first settler at Mt. Pleasant in 1874) is leaning on the post in the middle of the photograph. Conrad Buhmann is the man on the horse. Ben French is one of the two men sitting on the dip and Herman Kuhn Snr. is another of the men in the photograph but we don’t know which one. We only need another six names and positive identification of Ben French and Herman Kuhn Snr. The photograph was taken c. 1901.
DAYBORO BUTTER FACTORY: The Silverwood Butter Factory opened on 21st September 1903. It was taken over by the Terrors Creek-Samsonvale Co-operative Dairy Factory Co. in 1916. The following is an article which appeared in the “Brisbane Courier” on 16th May, 1929:-
‘BURNT OUT
DAYBORO BUTTER FACTORY
LOSS ESTIMATED AT SEVERAL THOUSANDS
The township of Dayboro has been dealt a severe blow by the total destruction last night of the large and up-to-date factory of the Dayboro Co-operative Dairy Association Ltd. The valuable plant, and 100 boxes of butter stored in the buildings went up in smoke.
When the alarm was given shortly before 10 o’clock last night, the entire population of the township joined forces in a valiant but futile fight to drown the roaring pyramid of flame which enveloped the factory. The township possesses no fire brigade, and the only means of attack was a bucket brigade. The blaze, however, had obtained too great a hold to allow much impression to be made on the long tongues of fiercely licking flames that climbed the walls of the building, and in a very short space of time the township’s principal mainstay was a sprawling heap of smoking ruins. It is understood that the factory was insured for about £8000 in the Guardian Insurance Co. The company will, nevertheless, be heavy losers.
RESIDENT’S DISCOVERY
The fire was first discovered by a resident who was passing the factory on his way home. He saw a column of flame leaping skyward, and speedily aroused the little township into a state of frenzied activity. The only water available for the long line of bucket volunteers that was hurriedly formed was from Terror’s Creek, near the township. Rapidly the laden buckets were passed from hand to hand, while those volunteers nearer the blazing walls flung the contents into the heart of the furnace. The feeble splashes of water made no impression, and soon the building was a smoking shell. The factory employed about 20 hands. Dayboro is the centre of a rich dairying district, and suppliers brought their cans of cream to the factory from near and far.”
DAYBORO BUTTER FACTORY
LOSS ESTIMATED AT SEVERAL THOUSANDS
The township of Dayboro has been dealt a severe blow by the total destruction last night of the large and up-to-date factory of the Dayboro Co-operative Dairy Association Ltd. The valuable plant, and 100 boxes of butter stored in the buildings went up in smoke.
When the alarm was given shortly before 10 o’clock last night, the entire population of the township joined forces in a valiant but futile fight to drown the roaring pyramid of flame which enveloped the factory. The township possesses no fire brigade, and the only means of attack was a bucket brigade. The blaze, however, had obtained too great a hold to allow much impression to be made on the long tongues of fiercely licking flames that climbed the walls of the building, and in a very short space of time the township’s principal mainstay was a sprawling heap of smoking ruins. It is understood that the factory was insured for about £8000 in the Guardian Insurance Co. The company will, nevertheless, be heavy losers.
RESIDENT’S DISCOVERY
The fire was first discovered by a resident who was passing the factory on his way home. He saw a column of flame leaping skyward, and speedily aroused the little township into a state of frenzied activity. The only water available for the long line of bucket volunteers that was hurriedly formed was from Terror’s Creek, near the township. Rapidly the laden buckets were passed from hand to hand, while those volunteers nearer the blazing walls flung the contents into the heart of the furnace. The feeble splashes of water made no impression, and soon the building was a smoking shell. The factory employed about 20 hands. Dayboro is the centre of a rich dairying district, and suppliers brought their cans of cream to the factory from near and far.”
The butter factory was rebuilt on a larger scale and remained in operation until 30th June 1965. How many of you still have some of that “Pine Meadows” foil butter wrap in your possession? It was great for lining the Christmas cake tins.
(At left) The Silverwood Butter Factory C. 1903And (below)
The Butter Factory after the fire in 1929.
Carmel Bond,, President
DAYBORO DISTRICT HITORICAL SOCIETY INC.
Ph: 3425 1717 (home)
or 3425 2032 (Dayboro Cottage)
DAYBORO DISTRICT HITORICAL SOCIETY INC.
Ph: 3425 1717 (home)
or 3425 2032 (Dayboro Cottage)
