West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Saturday 21 May 1898, page 2


THE VASSE BUTTER FACTORY.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

AND BUILDING.

The establishment of a butter factory at the Vasse may now be regarded as a certainty. As was stated in yesterday's WEST AUSTRALIAN the Vasse Butter and Produce Company, Limited, has accepted the tender of Mr. C. A. MacDonald, of Sydney, for the erection of a stone building, and for the supply and erection of ma-chinery, appliances, utensils, etc., com-

plete.

Mr. J. H. Clemenger, of the Stock Exchange Buildings, Perth, who is Mr. MacDonald's representative for Western Australia, has just returned from the Vasse, and has kindly furnished this journal with particulars of the factory, and plant. The plant is to be arranged on the most modern system, and will consist of all the latest and best appliances. In the eastern colonies, after many years'

experience, butter factories have been raised to a high standard of perfection. It is intended to do something more than follow in their wake and to strive after the attainment of a higher standard. With this object in view, the Vasse Company has secured what is claimed to be one of the most complete plants in existence. The system adopted for the factory is known as the gravitation system. Mr. A. Crawford, the Government dairy expert, who has had considerable experience with butter factories, strongly recommended the adoption of this arrangement. Mr. J. J. Clarke (of Messrs. J and E. Clarke, Royal Arcade Buildings), the architect who de-signed, the building and the arrange-ment of the plant for Mr. MacDonald, seems to have hit the idea required, everything being so arranged with a view to reducing the cost of labour to a mini-mum. Upon the arrival of the farmers' cart, the carters' cans of cream and milk will disappear before his astonished gaze, the cans being quickly hoisted by steam power, emptied and returned without being released in the operation. The milk being let loose will start on its process of self-manufacture. Starting from the highest point it will gravitate, step by step, here running into one vat, and then into another, then pouring into a separa-tor, and being whirled round at the rate of several thousands of revolutions a

minute. Here the streams divide, the skim milk finding its way unaided into its own little tank, while, the cream is shot out on its downward course. This time it strikes the Danish pasteurizer, where it has a hot time of it. The temperature rises, and not until it has reached 150 degrees, is the work of the pasteurizer effectually done. Next the cream is im-mediately plunged into the cooler—a sheer drop of 100 degrees—and quickly upon this follows the next stage of the process, as it starts off on its downward course again. This time the cream maturing vat is reached, where the cream is allowed to remain in a nice even temperature for several hours. Passing thence gently into the churn—which is Cherry's best—it is thoroughly churned. The "butter-worker," which is by the same maker, completes the operation, except the printing, packing, and storing in the cool room. Ample-steam power will be provided for a 14 h.p. boiler, and a 10 h.p. engine is included in the plant, and water will be pumped to the factory by a Deane pump. The total quantity of butter the plant is capable of turning out is one ton per day. The gravitation system is truly wonderful, for all the appliances are worked by steam, and the milk is not handled in any way from the time of re-ceiving until the butter is turned out of the churn. You have simply to "turn on the tap," so to speak, and you set the whole of the operations in motion. Now that separation, pasteurisation, and re-frigeration are in use, it might be said that nothing further can be done, except that the cow be laid on, It should be mentioned that the "Her-

cules" refrigerator has been adopted. This machine seems to have become a favourite one for butter factories and

dairies, as within a short period between 20 and 30 have been supplied for this pur-pose in Australia. Quite recently, Mr. MacDonald advised the sale of several dairy machines, amongst which was one for Sir Rupert Clarke, of Victoria, who is fitting up a most complete dairy plant on

his estate. The machines, while being small, compact, easily worked, elegant, and reliable, are powerful and effective. Already there are a number working in this colony for various purposes, while in the eastern colonies, it is said, you can scarcely put your foot in a place where there is not one. In addition to large and extensive "Hercules" ice making and re-frigerating plants throughout the Austral-asian colonies, Mr. MacDonald is now having erected in Sydney what is claimed to be the largest refrigerating plant in the Southern Hemisphere.

The building, which will be constructed of stone, is so designed that there will be ample room provided for working in and special care will be taken to have the place well ventilated. A suitable spot has been chosen for the site, which is situated about a mile from the Busselton railway station.

The directors of the Vasse Butter and

Produce Company, who are gentlemen of standing and business ability, have shown commendable promptitude in dealing with this matter. Although it is but a short time since the company was formed, they have had tenders advertised for, received, and dealt with, and arrangements are being made to have the buildings started immediately the final plans are approved. The contract requires the building and plant to be completed and in working order by the end of next August. The industry is one that will be watched with the keenest interest, and it is hoped the action of these gentlemen will be followed in other parts of the colony.