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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.
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