Brownes Dairy 1926

Brownes Dairy, also known as Peters Creameries, has been a cornerstone of Western Australian dairy production, with its Brunswick factory continuing to serve the community today.

Brownes Dairy, Australia’s oldest and most iconic dairy company, was established in 1886 by Edward Browne. He began by milking a small herd of cows in Shenton Park, and as demand grew, he expanded to a co-operative in North Perth before purchasing land in Brunswick in 1926. Opposite the railway station, Browne built a wooden factory, establishing Brownes Dairy in the South West.

As milk production increased, excess milk was separated—some sold as table cream, with the remainder sent to the Bunbury Butter Factory. By 1933, irrigation from Wellington Dam allowed milk output to rise, leading to a rebuild of the factory and the installation of cheese vats.

In 1953, Peters acquired Brownes’ shareholding in Brunswick Creamery Pty Ltd, and the company became Peters Creameries. The Brunswick site was expanded with a modern, multi-purpose factory opening in 1955, producing butter, cheese, and skim milk powder. For the first time in the area, milk was pasteurised and bottled locally. The building is easily identified by the large letters spelling ‘Peters Creameries’ on its exterior.

The smaller building on the corner was once the dairy shop and office, where locals could buy cheese, ice cream, and other dairy products. The three posts above the awning originally held large decorative ice creams.

The whistle at Peters was a vital part of Brunswick life, used to signal emergencies and mark the working day. Local resident Francis Burgoyne recalled:

“Whenever and wherever we were it was always ‘Be home when the whistle blows at 5 o’clock’. That whistle not only signalled the Peters working day but also ruled our lives, blowing off at 8, 12, 1 and 5 every weekday.”

The Brownes Dairy Brunswick Creamery still operates in Brunswick today.