Warrnambool Cheese and Butter have celebrated 125 years of operation making them the nations’ oldest dairy processor.
The families who founded the processor gathered at Allansford, south-west Victoria to reflect on the company’s history according to ABC Rural.
Frank Davis, WCB’s chairman, said the company was registered in May 1888 and today uses over 90 million litres of milk annually.
Local Allansford historian, Graeme Mcleod said that the initial opening of the dairy was received with scepticism surrounding the need for a dairy processor as most farms made their own butter.
"When it first started, farmers didn't really get involved in it. They were quite happy to do their own thing. It took a lot of convincing that working together was better than working alone."
The 125 years of operation were not met without challenges. The factory suffered through two fires, the first in 1913 and second in 1929, and more recently, the company withstood a supplier exodus in 2009 which lasted five days.
The Burleigh family has supplied milk to the company since inception aside from the five day exodus which was caused by a milk price dispute. The businesses came to an agreement five days later and have never looked back.
“It was a wakeup call to the company. Only good has come from it,” said milk supplier, Noel Burleigh.