Ratanui

Otago

28 Oct

Circa 1890s - photographer unknown - William Williamson pictured with harness bull

Dates: 1894-1894
Location: 235 Purakaunui Falls Road, Hinahina, Otago (-46.497671, 169.618463)
Registration No: 56; 1018
Brand name: RATANUI

Early History (1894-1897)

The Ratanui Co-operative Dairy Association Limited was formed by the local settlers in 1894 with Mr W Carlton as chairman, David Moir as treasurer, Mr RB Stansfield as secretary and Mr DD McFarlane and Joseph Shaw as the other committee members.

Settlers guaranteed £560 to secure payment for the factory building and plant on a 1 acre site donated by Mr AM Moncur. The factory was built by Alex McNeil of Balclutha, the brickwork and boiler by Mr W Miles and the painting by Mr J Shaw of Ratanui.

The cheese factory opened on Monday 12 November 1894 with the milk from 200 cows. James Rae of Port Chalmers was appointed the first manager and Mr F Thompson also of Port Chalmers was appointed his assistant. Competition to deliver milk first to the factory was fierce with Mr D Moir first, followed by Mr W Williamson and then Mr F Carlton.

Despite early promise and enthusiasm, the Association struggled with low milk supply, financial pressure and disagreements over milk pricing. In 1897, the Association was voluntarily wound up with David Moir appointed as liquidator.

Ownership Changes and Private Factory Era (1897-1912)

After liquidation, the factory passed through several owners. After the Association was liquidated, it was purchased by the New Zealand Co‑operative and Agency Company Limited but this ownership was short lived as that company was also liquidated in 1898 with the Ratanui cheese factory being listed for sale in July 1898. By late 1898, local storekeeper Mr RB Stansfield (the former secretary of the Association) had purchased the factory, restoring confidence among settlers: “everyone seems to be satisfied that the factory will now be a benefit to the district”. Stansfield operated the factory until 1906, when it was sold to George Reeve of Gore, who increased the milk price and revived supplier support. Reeve in turn sold the factory in early 1907 to Mr J Frentz of Mataura, who operated it until 1910. Around 1910, ownership passed to Daniel Oldham.

Photograph by Amos Hey - factory manager - circa 1934

Photograph by Amos Hey - factory manager - circa 1938

The 1912 Fire and Re‑establishment of the Co‑operative (1912-1914)

A major turning point came on 10 April 1912, when the factory - then owned by Daniel Oldham was destroyed by fire, with the building insured for £475 and contents for £175. Within months, local farmers decided to rebuild as a co‑operative on the same site, returning the factory to community ownership. Percy Shaw acted as secretary, called tenders for construction of the factory in July 1912 and on Thursday 31 October 1912, the new factory opened Albert T. Ross as manager.

Growth, Decline, and Final Years (1914-1954)

Supplier numbers peaked at 29 in 1917–18 and cheese output peaked at 90 tons in 1950. The factory also supported neighbouring districts, taking milk from Katea after its factory burned down in 1950, with Ratanui staff working night shifts to help keep production going. Despite strong community support, it wasn’t always easy to attract key staff to small isolated dairy factories with Ratanui struggling to fill the manager vacancy in 1949. Eventually, declining supplier numbers - falling to eight by 1954 - made continued operation difficult. The factory finally closed in 1954 before the co-op was formally struck off the register in 1959. As at October 2026, the old factory building is still standing.