Initial attempts to form a co-operative dairy factory in Golden Bay failed, but the vision eventually led to a company that served the district for 88 years.
In the mid to late 1880s, the dairy factory movement spread throughout New Zealand.
Dairy farmers united in their local areas and formed societies with the aim of sending their milk to a common factory, where it could be turned into cheese or butter. The proceeds from the sale of those products were then divided among members in proportion to the quantity of milk supplied.
Riwaka and Motueka began discussing the merits of such a venture in 1888. Golden Bay took a little longer, with interest gathering in 1892 when many farmers considered a dairy factory an urgent necessity if they were to keep pace with those in other parts of the colony.
Plans were put forward for a factory costing between £400 and £500 to be built in a central part of the district at, or near, the Aorere Bridge. The proposal was based on the co-operative model, with profits returned to shareholders.
In May 1892, farmers met at Rockville to advance the idea. Following heated discussion, a show of hands saw 15 people vote in favour of establishing a factory.
Initially, however, there was little enthusiasm and considerable suspicion about how the scheme would operate and whether it would benefit individual farmers.
By November, a resolution was passed to establish a dairy factory in the district, and farmers guaranteed the funds required for buildings and plant.
In February 1893, a search began for three acres of land near Rockville for the proposed Collingwood Co-operative Dairy Factory.
Just one month later, the scheme collapsed because of a lack of support.
With some bitterness, the public was informed that "all the labour, expense and time of the provisional directors have been thrown away, and nothing now remained to be done but to settle up preliminary expenses and let the project sink into oblivion."
A new chapter began in early 1893 when John Langridge arrived in Takaka after purchasing the store of T.A. Cook.
By May 1894, he was advertising plans for a dairy factory on the main road to Motupipi. The factory opened in November under the management of Jorgen Christensen, who had emigrated from Denmark.
Another dairy factory opened in Collingwood in 1895. Built by Messrs Bain and Chamberlain on a piece of tableland near the entrance to Kaituna Valley, it was within easy reach of Rockville. To support supply to the plant, Bain also established a creamery on his Rockville property.
Langridge's factory struggled to make a profit and in March 1899 he diversified into bacon curing.
In August 1902, Langridge circulated a letter to suppliers asking whether they supported forming a co-operative association to take over the factory. He indicated he was prepared to sell at a reasonable price.
The proposed Golden Bay Co-operative Dairy Factory Company Ltd quickly took shape. A prospectus was issued with the aim of purchasing Langridge and Co's butter factory and plant, along with the manager's house and one acre of land.
The directors took control of the business in October 1902 and began operations for the new season.
Their first year exceeded all previous records for both milk supply and butter production.
The company went on to serve Golden Bay for 88 years before being formally dissolved in January 1991.
