Purpose built in 1933 as a butter factory, The Old Butter Factory at Telegraph Point remained a functioning commercial dairy operation till 1959 by which time it was owned and run by the Macleay Regional Co op.
At its peak it produced almost 500 tons (254,000 kilograms) of butter in a 6 month period and it even had its share of suspicious scandal when in 1949 a board report described an “intriguing thing” where after several years of steady profit, the first 7 months of that financial year had been disastrous, yet the next 5 months went back to normal. The auditors couldn’t explain it at all!
The Old Butter Factory even featured in a unique legal case where the immunity of lawyers or advocates was challenged for the first time after it was claimed that a lawyers negligence had cost the owner of the Old Butter Factory at Telegraph Point a substantial sum of money and in the ensuing case one of the pillars of the legal system was almost brought down.
Over the years, a number of owners of the Old Butter Factory have used the building as a cafe/restaurant/dance hall with a shop selling a selection of locally produced items, producing meals of gastronomic delight and a providing a unique venue for many a wedding, anniversary or birthday celebration. There have been regular market days in the grounds up until only a few years ago. In another life the Old Butter Factory was used for passion fruit pulping production.
Today however there are no such scandals or headlines and the Old Butter Factory has been revamped as a function venue with built in history and a personality all of its own.
Externally it is virtually unchanged but inside one area of the building has been redesigned with dance floor, stage, large communal area, modern bar and even a section with stained glass windows which works rather nicely as a delightful area for weddings.
If you are thinking of a venue for a function you have coming up, call Tony and make an appointment and he may even be persuaded to show you around the rest of this historic building, explaining the history to you and pointing out what went on behind the scenes almost a century ago.