John Duffill, a Hāwera architect for nearly 40 years, specialised in ‘second generation’ dairy factories in South Taranaki – substantial concrete buildings to replace the smaller wooden structures of the 19th century. Duffill developed this plan for the Hāwera Co-operative Dairy Company’s main factory in 1913. The cooperative closed after amalgamation with the Kiwi Co-operative in 1967, and the buildings were the premises of the Taranaki Clothing Company for some years after.

After the First World War, some of Taranaki’s early dairy factories were replaced by concrete buildings, but many others closed as the industry consolidated. A good number of these buildings now have new functions, including as engineering workshops, farm storage sheds, residences and even, at Tāwhiti near Hāwera, a museum.