Sunny West Harvey Butter Factory Historic Site 1929

For many years, Harvey has had a prosperous dairy manufacturing industry. Premier Collier opened the Sunny West Harvey Butter Factory, later known as the South West Co-Operative Dairy Products Ltd, on this site in 1929. It was a significant employer in the district until its closure in the 1970s.

Starting in the early 1900s and spanning much of the century, the iconic Sunny West brand became synonymous with quality butter and milk products.

Despite the Great Depression, the Bunbury-based company constructed the Harvey Butter Factory in 1929. In 1932, it changed its name to South West Co-Operative Dairy Products Ltd, recognising the involvement of the local farmers and shareholders.

Fully off-grid and self-sufficient, the factory was powered by two large locomotive steam engines and was celebrated as the best-equipped factory in Australasia.

Following a major refit in 1942, production expanded to include cheeses, sweetened condensed milk, and the handling of district-wide milk supplies for local and metropolitan markets. During this period, the Harvey factory was the most productive of the seven Sunny West factories in the South West.

The factory featured in two major photographic advertising campaigns: the first in 1934, showcasing its multi-award-winning butter, and again in 1953.

In 1958, it produced 55.9% of Western Australia’s butter and 46.5% of cheese. That year, the total company turnover was £3,609,783, the total paid to farmers was £2,364,400, and the Co-operative had 7,058 shareholders and paid an ROI of 17.23%. For context, £1 in 1958 is equivalent to approximately $38 AUD in 2024, showcasing the immense scale of Sunny West’s operations.

Its excellence was further highlighted at the 1958 Perth Royal Show, featuring its innovative processes at Sunny West’s showground pavilion. As one observer noted,

 The Harvey factory has always been in the front line from a quality point of view.

Sadly, deregulation and rapid technological advancements led to its closure, and the building was demolished.

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