Dairying

Dairying was carried on at Westgarthtown from 1850-1972. Farming was initially on a subsistence basis, but during the 1850s gold rushes, the settlers began to produce dairy products, hay, chaff, vegetables, fruit and eggs for sale on a commercial basis. Melbourne was the main market. However, the proceeds from these early sales of produce were only realised after tiring return journeys to Melbourne, often on foot, over primitive roads in all kinds of weather.

By 1860, dairying had emerged as the main farming activity and was the mainstay of Westgarthtown’s economy for over a century. During the 1930s, Westgarthtown’s milk was retailed in Preston by Albert Siebel, who in 1934 established the Pura Dairy in Murray Road. At that time he had only one cart and delivered to a few streets. From this small beginning Pura Milk has grown to be one of Australia’s largest brands.