The Kingston Butter Factory is a community arts centre in Kingston, Queensland, Australia. It is located adjacent to the Kingston railway station. The factory underpinned the local dairying industry for six decades.[1]
It is currently closes for refurbishment. Original plans for an innovation hub were scrapped.[2] The new plans include an outdoor staged area capable of holding 5,000 people.[3] A co-operative and historical society has temporarily relocated off-site.
The original building was first constructed in 1907.[4] Construction was undertaken by Waugh and Josephson.[5] The factory also made milk, cottage cheese and baker's cheese.[4] Until the late 1950s the factory was operated as a co-operative. The factory was patronized by the Australian businessmen and politician William Stephens.
Original plans for a manufacturing plant in the area emerged in 1900.[6] The goal was to export products to Europe.[6] In 1906, a public meeting at Beenleigh Shire Hall saw around 50 dairy farmers gather. A ballot was held and a site near the railway with a good water supply was selected.[5] In 1911, a railway siding for the factory was built.[5] A modern brick building was built atop the old wooden structure in 1932.[5]
The weekly output of butter was between 40 and 50 tonnes by 1930.[5] Peak production was reached in 1934.[5] In July 1950, the Kingston Butter Factory registered as a wholesale milk vendor.[1]
The factory was closed in 1983. After funding by Logan City Council in 1998 it was transformed into a community arts centre.[4] It was formerly home to a theatre company.[7] The outdoor stage for entertainment launched[8] in March 2022, with The Butterbox Theatre and Living Museum set to open mid-year 2022.
27°39′29″S 153°07′14″E / 27.65806°S 153.12056°E / -27.65806; 153.12056
