Berrimah

Note – May be confusion in Darwin timelines as a packing plant was built and a number of abattoirs, at times these places may have operated at the same time.

Other names

• Darwin
• Angliss
• Central abattoirs⁵

Current Operation                

• reopened 1960’s³

Location             

• Ten Mile abattoirs reserve⁵

Owner                 

• North Australian Meat Company¹
• Sir William Charles²
• Vesty’s (1934)

Operation          

History                

• Sir William Charles (1865-1957)– Migrated from England, Engaged in butcher trade in Kent when young. Migrated to Roackhampton (QLD) 1884. Moved to Melbourne and opened two butcher stores in 1886.He began to export meat. Over the next 30 years became a dominant figure in Australian meat export trade. Sent meat to WA goldfields, latter to forces in South Africa and Britain. Built his own freezer works in Footscray 1905. Exported to NZ, opened offices in London and Liverpool. Brought meatworks in Forbes 1914 and Riverstone, Sydney 1920, Brisbane 1924 and with a rival (F.J. Walker) in Rockhampton 1927. Leased and bought cattle stations in 3 eastern states with Sir Kidney Kidman. Purchased QLD properties owned by the government in 1929. QLD properties could support 80,000hd. 1930’s claims William Charles owned the largest personally controlled  meat enterprise in the British Empire. 1933 Vestey’s acquired his Vic and the whole Angliss meat business except the QLD properties.

                   1934

• Vestey’s purchased Angliss meat business for £1.5M²
• Improvements in refrigeration now made it possible to send chilled rather than frozen product⁶

              1942   

• Government requested in early days of war that Bovril (VRD) supply 400 head to Darwin per month at £5 each. Few stockmen left due to labour shortage and Bovril had difficulty filling this order⁷

             1959    

• Improved to meet stringent USDA (USA Dept of agriculture) hygiene regulations⁴
• Combined with Katherine – capacity of 60,000hd per year, first time NT had export killing capacity³

             1961

• William Angliss and Co began building Central Abattoirs at Ten Mile abattoir reserve. This was to serve as a central killing works for Darwin with the aim of adding an export annex⁵

            1964 

• Vesteys opened⁴
• Paid 6 shillings and half pence a pound, Hong Kong export market couldn’t afford to match paying 5 shillings and half pence a pound⁴

            1970

• Couldn’t meet USDA standards – lost export licence, so did Broome,Derby, Wyndham and Katherine³

Sources