Story: Factory industries

Brightwater dairy factory (1st of 2)

Brightwater dairy factory

The opening of a local dairy factory was often a community celebration. The 500 people who turned up to see the Nelson Co-operative Dairy Company’s Brightwater factory opened in 1902 spent the afternoon viewing the factory and its machinery, listening to speeches and enjoying the afternoon tea. The scones and pastries, made with the company’s Victory brand of butter, were unanimously declared to be first class.

A lengthy report in the local paper noted that the factory was close to the local river, guaranteeing ‘an unfailing supply of pure water and drainage facilities of the best’. Until the later 20th century dairy factories pumped their waste directly into local waterways.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Tyree Studio Collection (PAColl-3064)
Reference: 1/1-000961-G
Photograph by Tyree Brothers

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Ian Hunter, 'Factory industries - Factories, 1880 to 1900', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/25558/brightwater-dairy-factory (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ian Hunter, published 11 Mar 2010