Byron Bay, Export facility processing beef and pigs. Initially built in 1913, the facility opened and closed several times and changed hands regularly. It was closed in 1983 permanently to be used then as a creative studio by artists. It suffered fire damage in 2003 to be demolished completely in 2008 for a subdivision development.

Other Names

• Common name used – Byron Bay abattoir

Current Operation

• Facility closed 28th October 1983²
• Aus meat Accreditation number

Location

• Description of physical location in relation to main town and state
  • distance to main urban areas or export sites of that state

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Location relative to other abattoirs across Australia

Location of Australian Abattoirs

  Location of Australian Abattoirs

How this map works.
This is a google engine layered map. At the moment it consists of 7 layers. By clicking on the box on the right hand side of the layers names it will illustrate the location of the abattoirs.

This is a work in progress and is not a complete list of all abattoirs that have operated in Australia or are currently operating.
Locations are approximate and are in relation to the closest town to which they are addressed.

The same abattoir site may appear in two different lists.

Use this link to access the Google map Australian Abattoirs locations.

 Location of Australian Abattoirs      

Owner

• FJ Walker^3.
• Elders^2.

Operation

• 6ha area of land adjacent to the beach^6.
• Export abattoir that processed beef and pigs^3.

History

Year

1912

• Byron Bay Co-Operative Canning and Freezing Company limited is established^7.
• Facility was built in 3 months⁷.
  • Original tender cost had been £3,050⁷.
    • Significant over run of budget actual cost was £4,500^7.

1913

• Byron Bay abattoir was built^2.
  • Located on Belongil beach^4.
  • Waste product – Blood was pumped into a pipe that went straight out to sea
    • Effluent attracted sharks

1914

• Operation is running at a loss due to lack of stock supply^4.

1919

• 100 people processed 100 head a day⁷
• Facility is shut down entirely for a period^4.
  • War years guaranteed a market for product⁷

1920

• Numerous efforts are made to restart the plant⁴.
  • ^.Facility stays closed for another 5 years^4.

1921

• A jetty is built from the port to use to reach ships to allow loading of cedar timber harvested from the area^5.
• Jetty also allows service coastal steamers to load and unload passengers^5.

1928

• Facility is sold to Norco^4.
• During the depression, AW Anderson take over the lease^4.
  • AW Anderson are export meat processors^7..
• Installation of new machinery, refrigeration and a freezer^7.
  • Plant was promoted widely to attract customers^7.
    • Sold to the Sydney Wholesale Markets^7.

1930

• Facility re-opened^7.
  • Meat was exported to the United Kingdom^7.

1954

• Andersons establish Byron Bay Whaling Company^7.
  • Located right next door to the meatworks^7.
  • Received a quota of 120 whales a year^7..
    • Whaling factory worked 24 hours, seven days a week on two 12 hour shifts^7.
    • 40 hours of normal pay and 30 hours double time^7.
      • Better than wages paid at the meatworks^7.
• Whaling industry is established and a whaling port is set up at Byron Bay^7.

Source. ‘Byron Bay: The danger that lurks in paradise’ QLD CL 09/09/2014

• Effluent was pumped directly into the sea^7..
  • One worker had the job of shooting sharks when seen^7.

1960

• Market access for meat was gained into the USA^7.
• Facility was upgraded at a cost of $500,000^7.

1962

• Whaling industry is stopped
  • Between 1954 to 1962 1,146 whale were slaughtered, producing 10,000 tonnes of oil^7.

1967

• Andersons go into receivership^7.
  • Receiver directed Jack Ware to get the plant running efficiently or it would close^7.
  • Unfinished article print

1968

Source. Lee Clarke. Byron Bay abattoir 1968

1968.

• Andersons sell the works to FJ Walker^7.

1983

• FJ Walker is taken over by Elders IXL^7.
• Byron Bay abattoir is closed permanently^2.
  • Elders own it as this time^2.
    • Part of significant rationalisation of processing plants owned by Elders that became Australian Meat Holdings
  • 360 employees are laid off^2.
    • Few jobs available for locals once the facility was closed^7.
• Locals were happy to see the facility closed due to the smell it generated^7.

1984

• Site is sold to McKeller family who convert the main buildings into a creative studio for artists, yoga and performing arts^4.

2000

• The site is sold to Kendell street developers^4.

2003

• Buildings are burnt down^4.

2008

• February. Old abattoir site, that was known as epicentre building is demolished to make way for a 19 house subdivision^4.

2017

• Beach front area of Belongil beach could sell up to $40M^8.

Sources

1. http://www.byronbay.com.au/about-byron/history. Accessed 09.12.2017
2. Lee Clarke. Personal communication 02/05/2014
3. ‘World on a plate’
4. https://www.byronnews.com.au/news/apn-end-of-an-era-as-epicentre/140945/. 28.02.2008
5. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/byron-bay-the-danger-that-lurks-in-paradise-20140909-10eft3.html. 09/09/2014
7. ‘Byron Bay: The danger that lurks in paradise’ QLD CL 09/09/2014 24/03/2015
8. http://www.bigvolcano.com.au/human/whalinghistory.htm

Tagged: Abattoirs in Australia, Australian Abattoirs, Australian meat processing, Australian meat processing facilities, Australian meatworks, byron bay meat processor, closed export abattoirs, NSW abattoirs