Busselton Museum in the Old Butter Factory

Star 4.7 (124 Google reviews)

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Busselton Museum in the Old Butter Factory

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Busselton Museum is open to the public Wednesday to Monday from 10 am - 2 pm, and closed Tuesdays.
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The Heritage Butter Factory and Busselton Museum has many display rooms packed with photographs, equipment and memorabilia which trace the family, social, civic, commercial and maritime history of Busselton. Everything from agriculture to whaling; from crockery, clocks and cameras to sewing machines, travel and transport are included. The one-hectare site is nestled on the banks of the picturesque Vasse River. A replica of the Jetty Rotunda enhances the vista and the exhibits demonstrate Busselton’s diverse agricultural, forestry and maritime history. Special attention is focused on the famous 1920’s Group Settlement Scheme.
Owned by the State Government, through the Agricultural Department, this Butter Factory was opened in 1918. In 1926 South West Dairy Produce Co-operative became the owners and the name changed to Sunny West. Development of the Group Settlement Scheme in the area caused a great upsurge in production, as there were 735 farms in the Busselton district by 1926. Then came the Great Depression of the early 1930s, the 1939-45 war and the boom period which followed. This boom saw the factory reach peak production of about 30 tons of butter per week. Before the days of refrigeration, the factory also operated an Ice Works, supplying the town of Busselton and local fishermen with much sought after ice.

High overheads during the offseason coupled with more efficient road transport caused closure of this and several other factories. Operations were then centralised at Boyanup. Busselton ceased making butter in 1952. A dried milk plant was installed, but a slump in overseas markets made the process unprofitable and production stopped. The premises served as a depot for trucks and tankers until operations ceased altogether in 1973.

The building was vested in the Shire of Busselton which then leased part of it to the Busselton Historical Society.

The Museum opened in 1975 and is now run entirely by volunteers. Tuesdays are set aside for this willing band of workers who collect Busselton memorabilia, maintain the artefacts and build new displays.

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Busselton Museum in the Old Butter Factory

Old Butter Factory Complex, Peel Terrace, Busselton WA 6280, Australia

Reviews

Star 4.7 (124 Google reviews)
Tash Leam 04 June 2022

This is a gorgeous Country museum which is filled with a wide variety of historical artefacts ranging from wagons, machinery, clothing and furniture. There is a great deal to see and learn about. Definitely worth the visit.

Bryce McLean 19 September 2021

One of the best volunteer run historical museums I have ever visited (and I’ve been to a few). So many periods covered and so many artefacts from these. Room after room brings back many distant memories. I loved the old classroom and early readers. NB: No indigenous/first peoples history or their treatment is included.

Honey Bunny 29 December 2022

Bring enough time to see the many different tools and artefacts from the past. Indoor and outdoor areas and lovely pavilion at the water's edge. Wonderful to learn about the history of the area.

felicity wolf 12 July 2022

The Busso Meseum is loving run by volunteers and located in what used to be the Butter Factory! An amazing collection of local items dating back to the early days a of settlement. A great display of the old butter factory machinery items used.A credit to the community & pleasent surprise to tourists

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