Katea - Awatea

Otago

28 Oct

Photographer unknown - see below for details of some of the people

Dates: 1907-1919
Location 1: (1907-1913) Hunt Road, Katea, 9586, Otago (-46.389831, 169.594518)
Location 2: (1913-1919) 1207-1265 Hunt Road, Owaka Valley 9586 (-46.370512, 169.547729)
Location 3: (1924-1999) Hunt Road, Katea, 9586, Otago (-46.401230, 169.618565)
Registration No: 1712
Brand name: KATEA

Origins of the Katea Cheese Factory (1907-1913)

The Katea cheese factory began in 1907 when Oscar William Day-Tabor agreed to build a factory on a 2 acre section owned or leased by the Easons after settlers guaranteed around 300 cows for supply. A public meeting on 29 May 1907 confirmed community support, and Day Tabor promised the factory would be operating by 1 October 1907. Early production grew quickly, peaking at 24 suppliers in 1909 and 66 tons of cheese in 1910, all sold under the KATEA brand.

Move to Awatea and Decline (1913-1920)

Competition from the newly opened Fairfield Co op cheese factory in 1911 less than 3.5kms away likely pushed Day-Tabor to relocate his factory operation further up Hunt Road to his farm at Awatea around 1913. The business continued there for several years but appears to have closed around 1919. Tragedy struck soon after: on 3 February 1920, Oscar Day-Tabor died by suicide at age 40, leaving behind his wife Rose and five young children.

From Cheese Factory to Community Hall (1924-1999)

After Day-Tabor’s death, his Awatea farm was sold by auction in 1920 and the factory was advertised for sale in 1921. Some time after 1924, the factory was relocated again this time to serve as the Katea Hall opposite Katea School on Hunt Road. It remained in community use until at least 1999. The Day-Tabor family endured further heartbreak during World War II, losing three sons - John, Adrian, and Lionel - within seven months between 1942 and 1943. A memorial honouring the brothers was unveiled at the Katea/Hunt Road corner in 2025.