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Somerset Stories

Nestle Condensed Milk Factory

DESCRIPTION

History

Australia’s first condensed milk factory opened in 1898 on the banks of Cressbrook creek. An initiative of the McConnel and Munro families, the factory was first known as the Cressbrook Condensed Milk Factory. The village of Cressbrook grew around the factory and with the arrival of the railway linking the town to Ipswich in 1904, the town expanded and was renamed Toogoolawah.

The prosperous factory was sold in 1907 to the Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company of Australasia Limited and investments continued with the construction of the packing shed in 1920 and an engine room in 1927, enabling the factory to provide electricity to nearby towns.

By late 1929, the Great Depression had arrived and factories everywhere faced closure. Production of condensed milk ceased on 22 November 1929 with small scale production of unsweetened milk continuing in Toogoolawah until 1938, when the factory closed for good. Nestlé continued to use the site, particularly the bomb shelter built for document storage during the Second World War.

A large fire destroyed the majority of the factory on 15 September 1951, with the remaining buildings sold to a local business.

TIMELINE

A timeline of the factory can be viewed here.

Other NamesAnglo-Swiss Condensed Milk FactoryCressbrook Condensed Milk FactoryTypeAgriculture & Food ProductionReferencesHistory. The Condensery. (Accessed 25 March 2025).

Photographs

Nestle factory lagoon in flood, 1928

Nestle farm's champion bull, Royal George II of Nestles

Railmotor at the Nestle condensery

Unloading milk at the Toogoolawah condensery

Triple expansion steam engine

Nestle staff outside the packing shed

Nestle's red tank taken from the white tower, 1927

Nestle's packing shed

Remnants of the Nestle factory after a fire, 1951

Nestle factory with two chimneys

Nestle's factory shed (end and front side view)

Nestle's factory shed (rear, side view)

Nestle's factory shed (end view)

Nestle's factory shed (view of the front end of shed)

Nestle's factory shed (front side view)

Nestle factory lagoon

Nestle factory, 1898

Nestle factory bordering Cressbrook Creek

Nestle factory with carriages in the foreground

Nestle factory after closure, 1929

Nestle & Anglo Condensed Milk Factory

Manuscripts & Documents

Announcement of a public meeting in Nestle's cultural precinct, Alexandra Hall 5.30pm Thursday 11th July 2013

Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co (Australasia) Limited trade mark stamp

Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. certificate for milk products written in German.

Nestle condensery, Toogoolaway

Nestle condensery employees

Nestle condensery, Toogoolawah

Places

Toogoolawah School

Events

Electricity In Toogoolawah

CONNECTIONS

SubjectsFactoriesCreameriesCreameryDairiesDairyCollectionAgricultureBusinessesRelated PlacesToogoolawahRelated PeopleMcConnel FamilyRelated ItemsTimeline of the Nestle factoryAddress27, Factory Road, Toogoolawah, 4313, AustraliaGeo Coordinates^[1]

Administration

SL IdentifierBUS0014

Linked To

Collection

Related Places

Toogoolawah

Related People

McConnel Family

Photographs

Related Businesses (56)

Manuscripts & Documents

Related Businesses (6)

Places

Related Businesses

Events

Related Businesses

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Nestle Condensed Milk Factory