An old photograph of the Drouin Co-operative Butter Factory on Main South Rd.
Note the variety of vehicles captured - motor vehicles, horse and cart and even a motorbike - which were in use at the time.
A man who played a pivotal role at the butter factory was William Lawrence Kraft.
Known as Bill, he was born in 1900.
His parents ran a hotel in Bunyip for many years. The hotel was the hub of civic and social functions.
Bill was just four-years-old when a group of 100 dairy farmers pooled their meagre resources to establish the dairy co-operative in Drouin.
Little did either party know at that time that their futures would become so inter-linked.
At the tender age of 18, Bill became the "office boy" with the Drouin "Co-op".
Within three years, he became secretary, bringing innovative thoughts and new ideas with him. He had also gained qualifications of "butter maker", "cheese maker" and "milk tester".
The original building of the Drouin Co-op still stands today - with some additions - on the east side of Main South Rd just past the railway bridge. The factory was powered by steam boilers fired by wood brought in from outlying areas. The factory generated its own electricity and supplied power to the town as well.
Many dairy factories existed in these days before the large corporates took over. In 1924, there were 110 in Victoria.
Bill dreamed of expanding Drouin's operation. He did this by setting up the first 600-gallon contracts and then working with farmers for better yields all year round.
He appointed Dr William Martin as veterinary surgeon to work for the Drouin Co-op members, helping to educate farmers on improving herd health and milk production.
In 1930, Bill became the co-op manager.
With a vision to grow the co-op, Bill purchased the Croftbank and Cranbourne Dairies in East Malvern to enable Drouin to supply more milk to Melbourne. In fact, Drouin became the largest supplier of milk to the Melbourne Market and the factory became the largest employer in the district. At the time, 4000 gallons of milk and 20 tons of butter was railed to the city daily by train.
Photograph and information courtesy of Stories of Drouin, a cooperative oral history project between the Committee for Drouin, Drouin History Group and 3BBR FM to preserve local stories.
Visit storiesofdrouin.com.au to hear more of Bill Kraft's story.