Colac #1

Australian Abattoirs, Colac, Victoria, Victorian abattoirs listed, Victorian meat processors 27/08/2014 Leave a comment

My thanks to the Colac Otway Shire council for their kindness in finding and lending me the book ’75 Years of meat processing in a proper manner – The Colac abattoir’ by Trish Stephens 2002.

 

Other Names

  • Colac Meat preserving company1
  • CRF

Current Operation

Location   

  • Colac is situated in South east Victoria, approximately 75km south east of Geelong

 

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • Colac Shire Council1
  • Colac Shire Council and Colac City council1
  • Sherry Family (from 1965 – )1
  • Western District Meat Packing – 1965 – 1997
  • CRF (Colac Otway Pty Ltd) 1997

Operation   

History

1837

  • Hugh Murray established a camp on the Barongarook creek that became the Colac settlement (pg1)1
    • Name Colac was taken from the local Aboriginal tribe (Pg 1)1

1859

  • Thomas Austin from the Winchelsea district imported the first wild rabbits (Pg 1)1

1870

  • Wild rabbits had developed by this time into plague proportions.(Pg 1)1
  • Rabbit preserving factory –  the first industry in Colac was developed.(Pg 1)1

1871

  • Colac Meat Preserving Company begins operation.(Pg 1)1
    • Set up by Farrington and Hamilton on the South west boundary of town.(Pg 1)1
    • 400 couples of rabbits delivered for initial processing.(Pg 1)1

1872

  • Company wound up due to lack of markets.(Pg 1)1
    • Many locals who had subscribed to the company lost their funds.(Pg 1)1

1873

  • Another preserving company established – to preserve beef and mutton.(Pg 1)1
    • Cattle and sheep prices were so high the company mainly preserved rabbit over the next 10 years.(Pg 1)1

1875

  • Colac shire council pass a resolution to consider suitable sites for an abattoir.(Pg 2)1

1888

  • Beef and mutton preserving company closed.(Pg 1)1

1912

  • Colac still has no abattoir and slaughterhouses are processing animals from saleyards.(Pg 3)1
    • facilities are un-hygienic and many sites exist that the health inspectors of the time were unable to supervise.(Pg 3)1

    “… a place where animals can be slaughtered in a proper manner.” Shire Inspector – AA McCune. (Inside cover)1

    • A report is written to the shire to consider establishing an abattoir similar to the new facility at Warrnambool.(Pg 3)1

1924

  • Colac Shire were the first shire in Victoria to establish its own municipal abattoir. (Pg 4)1
  • Colac shire committed 20,000 pounds to the project. (Pg 4)1
    • there was opposition to the project from some members of the public and butchers.(Pg 4)1
    • 17 acre site near the railway line at Colac East.(Pg 4)1
  • Abattoir design was based on estimate of annual slaughtering.(Pg 4)
    • 2,300 cattle – killing costs 2 shillings per head.(Pg 4)1
    • 22,880 sheep – Killing costs 6 pence.(Pg 4)1
    • 540 pigs – killing costs 6 pence.(Pg 4)1
    • 5,000 calves – killing costs 1 shilling.(Pg 4)1
    • These values the Colac  council expected to raise sufficent funds to pay for the loan and provide a surplus of 500 pounds per annum.(Pg 4)1
  • Abattoir was made of reinforced concrete – which was a relatively new building product at the time.(Pg 4)1

“The building was of concrete and included beef killing, beef hanging, mutton and pork, pig dressing and offal rooms. There was also a chilling chamber, air lock, chilling plant, hot water system and drainage system. Electric light and power was installed and water laid on from the Colac Scheme. In all there were twenty seperate rooms” The Shire of Colac 1864-1964. (Pg 4)1

1925

  • Colac abattoir offically opened. (Pg 6)1
  • Early days of operation labourer advertisement to pay 4 pounds 10 shillings per week. (Pg 6)1
    • 75 men applied for the one position. (Pg 6)1
  • Individual butchers’ slaughteryards were phased out.1
  • Slaughtermen in the abattoirs were adept at slaughter and dressing with none of today’s automation to assist them. (Pg 7)1
    • slaughtermen dragged sheep from the pen, rolled on the animal on its side, cut the throat, skinned, hung and dressed (gutted and cut off the legs.). (Pg 7)1
  • First method of killing beef was spearing. (Pg 8)1
    • Slaughterman would stand over the top of the beast in a crush, using a 3/4 inch blade on a long handled spear drive it into the back of the animals head – severing the spinal cord. (Pg 8)1
      • animal then rolled onto grate to be bled. (Pg 8)1
    • Captive bolt method of killing was introduced latter – pistol fired a hollow bolt into the back of the neck killing the animal, bolt retracted into the gun. (Pg 8)1
    • Early method to kill pigs was to strike them with a pronged hammer on the forehead.(Pg 14)1
      • Latter animals were electrocuted with a clamp to each side of the head. (Pg 14)1

Insert picture – page 6 – Colac Municipal abattoir (Pg 6)1

1930

  • 2,000 animals were being slaughtered monthly with numbers increasing steadily.(Pg 8)1
  • Offal was picked up from the abattoir daily by truck and taken to a works. (Pg 8)1
    • boiled down and converted into meat meal, blood and bone and tallow.(Pg 8)1

1930’s & 1940’s

  • Various customers of the abattoir. (Pg 9)1
    • farmers having their own stock slaughtered for personal use.(Pg 9)1
    • Wholesale butchers for local butchers and sent to Melbourne meat markets.(Pg 9)1
    • Council had stock slaughtered and sent to Melbourne meat market – with skin on.(Pg 9)1

1938

  • Abattoir now controlled by a joint committee consisting of 3 representatives from each of 2 councils. (Pg 10)1
    • Arrangement caused problems in latter years. (Pg 10)1

1939

  • Special meeting of council agreed that increased accommodation, a drafting race and other improvments were urgently needed. (Pg 11)1

1940’s

  • Meat was loaded on trucks to be transported in the early morning to reach Melbourne markets.(Pg 11)1
  • Blood, bone and inedible offal was carried in bags to Camperdown. (Pg 11)1
  • Edible offal was sent to Newmarket. (Pg 11)1
  • Slaughtermen worked on contract killing. (Pg 12)1
  • Tuberculosis and Brucellosis infected cattle were inspected at properties and those found infected had a large arrow shaved onto their sides. (Pg 12)1
    • All TB cattle were consigned after slaughter to boiling down works. (Pg 12)1

1944

  • Meat Rationing introduced. (Pg 39)1
    • Those over 9 years old – 1 and 1/2 pounds high quality to 4 pounds low quality per week. (Pg 39)1
    • Under 9 years old half of that ration. (Pg 39)1
    • Coupons were issued. (Pg 39)1
    • Rationing continued until 1948. (Pg 39)1
    • Home delivery by butchers wasn’t allowed. (Pg 39)1

1948

  • Boiling works was already in operation at Colac site at this time.(Pg21)1

1958

  • Western District Meat Packing Company (WDMP) set up by Vic Sherry.(Pg22)1

1960’s

  • Most stock sourced from the Western District.(Pg 17)1
    • Occasionally was shipped in from Tasmania.(Pg 17)1
    • One occasion bought by train from Adelaide.(Pg 17)1
  • Meat distribution went over a wide area of the western district of Victoria.(Pg 17)1
  • Shared ownership was causing management problems.(Pg 19)1
    • Shire Council offered 35,000 pounds to City Council to buy their share.(Pg 19)1
    • Offer was initially refused but then increased to 40,000 pounds and accepted.(Pg 19)1
  • Slaughter of animals – Calves hit on the head with an iron bar(Pg 19)1
    • From 1957 to early 60’s calve carcases sent to Melbourne with skins on.(Pg 19)1

1963

  • Previous 3 years Council spent 6,877 pounds on improvements and extensions including installation of additional chilling space.(Pg 19)1
  • Year ending 30th September(Pg 19)1
    • 182,890 animals slaughtered, monthly average 15,000 head.(Pg 19)1
  • Renewal of export registration for slaughter of cattle and sheep Establishment #142.(Pg 18)1
  • Colac now slaughtering 90 head a day for the USA beef export market.(Pg 19)1
    • Americans put more and more pressure on the shire to upgrade the plant.(Pg 19)1
    • Shire was disinclined to increase costs to ratepayers and was unable to meet necessary export requirements – relinquished export licence May 1964.(Pg 19)1
  • Colac processing beef for the canning trade.(Pg 19)1

1964

  • Relinquished export licence to USA .(Pg 19)1
  • Western District Meat packing company obtain an order from Greece for 300 head, boned out into lean beef packs.(P22)1

1965

  •  Commonwealth Meat Authority announce that ‘slaughtermen at municpal abattoirs must be under the one control’.(Pg 19)1
  • Colac abattoir slaughtermen worked under contract to the operators who used the abattoir.(Pg 19)1
    • a situation not easily altered.(Pg 19)1
    • Shire was faced with a serious dilemma about the future of the works.(Pg 19)1

“The main reason why the Council decided to sell was because it was an enormous expense on loan funds (273,000 pounds had been quoted for improvements so that an export licence for the United States could be obtained and the licences for the U.K and Europe retained) and Council would not be able to make it pay, It could not be able to be made pay unless Council acquired the boiling down works owned by Mr Sherry” Colac Herald 11.06.1965.(Pg 24)1

  • When Sherry family decided to purchase works objections were made regarding sale (Pg 24)1
    • Lodged by a competitior but later revealed was local butchers (Pg 24)1
    • Butchers attempted to form a co-operative to buy the abattoir themselves (Pg 24)1
  • Sherry Family purchase the Colac abattoir.(Pg 20)1
    • Sale agreement contained clauses governing the operation of the facility for the next 15 years (Pg 25)1
    • Safegaurded the butchers interests (Pg 24)1
    • Sherry family had connections with the abattoir for many years prior to purchase contracted to process the by-products.(Pg 20)
    • By-products facility operated at the abattoir with product shipped to Melbourne.(Pg 20)1
    • Another firm Pannifax already processed some by products.(Pg 20)1
      • Oesophagi lining – used for special sausage skins.(Pg 20)1
      • Dried sausage skins used for strings on tennis racquets.(Pg 20)1
      • Sheep, trotters and cows feet and noses to sell for gelatine.(Pg 20)1
    • Vic Sherry started an operation in 1952/53 – called Colac By-products.(Pg 21)1
      • produced high quality tallow, meat meal used in stock and dog food, blood and bone.(Pg 21)1
      • Dried ends of cow tails for paint brushes.(Pg 21)1
  • Western District Meat Packing Company with 2 other Australian companies selected for export trial of 150 tonne order to Yugoslavia. (Pg 22)1
  • Other export markets at this time included Malta, Egypt, Malaya, Britian, West Indies, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and France. (Pg 22)1

1966

  • Piggery department was closed.(Pg 26)1
    • Costs of upgrading the piggery to Australian standards became too great. (Pg 26)1
    • Killing of pigs became uneconomical. (Pg 26)1

1975

  • Western District Meat Packing section closes. (Pg 28)1
    • Machiney in the by-products section of the business was run almost entirely on oil. (Pg 28)1
    • Oil prices rose dramatically. (Pg 28)1
    • Competitive edge of business was lost.(Pg 28)1

1976

  • WDMP – Business focused on home markets (Pg 28)1
    • $250,000 improvements were completed (Pg 28)1
    • 8% increase in staff (Pg 28)1
    • Output of mutton section more than doubled to 1,000 sheep a day (Pg 28)1
  • 7 department of health inspectors kept watch on quality of meat (Pg 28)1
  • 85% of meat processed through abattoir (30 tonnes per night) carted to Melbourne (Pg 28)1
  • Abattoir processing chain moves from solo slaughtering to chain methods (Pg 30)1
    • Once installed the record of 234 beef carcases processed in one day is set (Pg 31)1

1978

  •  Colac abattoir now employs 185 people (Pg 29)1
    • Largest employer in the town (Pg 29)1
  • Australian Meat substitution scandal causes irreparable damage to the industry overall and WDMP is forced to sell its 14 retail shops (Pg 29)1

1980

  • Work ceased for 6 weeks (Pg 32)1
  • Late 1980’s women were allowed to be employed in the boning room and later on the chain. (Pg 32)1
  • Colac was one of the few meatworks in Victoria to gain a full licence to sell produce to every state. (Pg 32)1

1981

  • Colac slaughter lambs for Coles Supermarkets1
    • initially 500 per week, by 1989 5,000 per week (Pg 34)1

1989

  • Colac abattoir now slaughtering 5,000 lambs per week for Coles Supermarkets (Pg 34)1

1990

  • Colac now employs 100 people on the chain and boning room plus 20 office workers, 4 buyers and 2 drovers (Pg 34)1

1992

  • Coles is now Colac’s major business with an arrangement that all Coles stock to be slaughtered at Colac (Pg 34)1

1993

  • Colac receive  an award ‘to encourage and reward innovation throughout the entire meat industry’ (Pg 34)1
    • Installed a system that altered the small stock slaughter chain.(Pg 34)1
      • Based on a New Zealand system.(Pg 34)1
      • more hygienic with less micro contamination.(Pg 34)1
      • better-looking carcase.(Pg 34)1
      • carcase lasted longer.(Pg 34)1
      • Development costs $40,000, expected to return $80-$100,000.(Pg 34)1

1996

  • March. Member of Polwarth Ian Smith announces a multi million dollar development at the abattoir. (Pg 34)1
    • Include food processing plant, abattoir, packing and boiling down facility.(Pg 34)1
    • Included meat packing for export.(Pg 34)1
    • create 700 jobs.(Pg 34)1
    • Plan never came to fruition. (Pg 34)1

1997

  • August. Business goes into receivership. (Pg 34)1
    • Voluntary administrators are appointed. (Pg 34)1
  • November. Colac Otway Shire are notified that the meatworks was in receivorship. (Pg 35)1
  • Council decide to purchase the assets and business from the receiver and seen new investment from the private sector. (Pg 35)1
  • Closure of the facility would have been disastorous for Colac.(Pg 35)1
    • Large number of workers placed on social security.(Pg 35)1
    • lowering of house values in an already depressed market.(Pg 35)1
    • whole families leaving town.(Pg 35)1
    • Snowball effect on other businesses and service providers.(Pg 35)1
  • Research was conducted. (Pg 36)1
    • Meat industry was undergoing massive changes but the Colac facility could accomodate these changes.(Pg 36)1
      • Location.(Pg 36)1
      • access to quality stock.(Pg 36)1
      • High quality water.(Pg 36)1
      • skilled workforce available that could be quickly and easily retained.(Pg 36)1
      • Site already had a planning permit.(Pg 36)1
    • Council went ahead with business plan to attract a new investor.(Pg 36)1
  • December. Colac Otway Shire council enter agreement with liquidators indemnifying them from losses.(Pg 36)1
    • Liquidators operated facility from 15th December 1997 to 19th January 1998.(Pg 36)1

1998

  • January. Liquidators operate facilities to 19th January 1998.(Pg 36)1
  • The Shire obtains an domestic licence and signs contracts with liquidators.(Pg 36)1
  • August. Operation run at a loss by Shire to this date.(Pg 36)1
  • Main focus to reestablish busines. (Pg 36)1
    • Maintain good relationship with Coles .(Pg 36)1
    • Maintain wholesale operation and distribution business.(Pg 36)1
  • Coles re-enter the boning operations.(Pg 36)1
  • 25% of the workers previously employed by liquidators shed but no direct sackings occured.(Pg 36)1
  • No new employment created, places filled by casuals.(Pg 36)1
  • 80 permanent employees and 50 casuals employed.(Pg 36)1
  • Now processing 2,000 lambs and 100 beef a day.(Pg 36)1
  • Shire Council was under immense pressure, taking a huge risk to keep the facility in operation1
    • pressure came from. (Pg 36)1
      • unions. (Pg 36)1
      • fluctuating marketplace. (Pg 36)1
      • fact that facility didn’t meet National Standards. (Pg 36)1
      • Uncertainty of government support. (Pg 36)1

1999

  • June. Development agreement is signed. (Pg 37)1
  • Victorian meat authority are pressuring shire – Licence was due to expire 30th June.(Pg 37)1
  • August. Licence negotiated and extended to 13th August. (Pg 37)1
  • Building of new plant begins. (Pg 37)1
    • export standard meat processing facility. (Pg 37)1
  • Facility to be run by privately owned company CRF (Colac Otway Pty Ltd). (Pg 37)1

2000

  • March. Licence negoitated to further extension 31st March.(Pg 37)1
  • Killing only lambs for Coles.(Pg 37)1
  • Retention of workers ensured atleast 80 full time and 50 casual positions retained.(Pg 37)1
  • Expect further 150 positions when CRF operating to capacity.(Pg 37)1
  • $50M direct annual turnover expected.(Pg 37)1
    • Multiplier impact of conservative $10M per annum in the local economy.(Pg 37)1

 2010

  • February. Crisis of animal supply due to weather, National flock numbers low and high sheep prices.
    • Colac abattoir stops employing casual staff
    • Some Victorian saleyards lambs $170 a head
      • processors losing $50 a head on prime lamb
    • Problems expected to last at least another 12 months
  • National sheep flock has plunged from 170M in 1990 to below 70M
    • prolonged drought and low wool prices
    • farmers forced to leave industry or trim numbers
  • Soaring Aussie dollar has made sheep expensive on the international market
  • Colac currently employing 400
    • Still operating 2 shifts a day
  • Live export through Portland also expected to curtail during winter as stock become scarce
  • Australian Lamb Company (ALC) – use Colac abattoir currently processing 2,800 lambs a week through Colac
    • ALC in peak times were processing 5,000 lambs.

 

Sources

  1. ’75 Years of Meat Processing in a proper manner – The Colac abattoir’ Trish Stephens 2002.

Mudgee

Australian Abattoirs, Beef processing abattoir, Goat processor, Mudgee, New South Wales, Sheep processing abattoir 16/07/2014 Leave a comment

Other Names

  • Cudgeong abattoir

Current Operation

Location   

  • Mudgee is located 120 kilometres north of Lithgow in NSW on the western side of the Great Dividing range.

 

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • Cudgegong Shire Council ( ? – 1988)1
  • Flectcher International exports – 19881

Operation   

  • Last council-owned meatworks to survive the rationalisation of the meat processing industry1

History

1965

  • Built as a service works for local butchers2

1981

  • Roger Flectcher – started his meat processing career when he leased the boning room at Mudgee and operated until 19882 when he built Dubbo abattoir (NSW)

1996

  • Up to half of NSW abattoirs could close with the loss of up to 5,000 jobs1
  • Authors Note – Majority of live export cattle during this period would have been Bos Indicus or crosses to South East Asia markets, sourced from mainly northern Australia. Not animals suited to heavy slaughter in Australia and from herds whos’ production was not likely destined for abattoirs in NSW.

LE exports 1990_1998_edited-2Source – Live Cattle Exports. Australian Commodities Vol 5 #2 June 1998

 Chart showing the high volume of South East Asia live cattle export destinations period 1990 – 1998

2003

  • August. Mothballed1
  • Had employed 230 people1
  • Accumulated debts of $13M, had appointed an administrator.2
  • 2002/2003 processed2
    • 32,000 cattle2
    • 600,000 sheep, lambs and goats2
    • 1,300 deer2
  • Liquidator – Steve Parberry of PPB chartered accountants2
  • Tender Sale conducted by David Nolan Rural and Project marketing2
  • Previous 5 years of operation it had worked almost entirely for 5 major export customers including2
    • Mudgee co-op for sheep2
    • Melbourne beef processor – GH Keily2
  • December. Purchased by Fletcher International Exports.1
  • Would be atleast a year or later before the plant will be sufficently renovated to enable operation1
    • $3M rebuilding program at the plant1
      • New freezers would need to be installed to allow for more freezer capacity1
      • the current coal-fired boilers need to be replaced with natural gas to cut operating costs1
      • Beef line was good, boning room had heavy investment1
      • Utilise as a single species abattoir – beef1
        • enable plant better chance to survive as cattle numbers not as severely depleted due to drought1

 

Sources

  1. ‘Abattoirs revived’ Stock and Land 24.12.2003
  2. ‘Meatworks jobs saved’ The Land 25.12.2003
  3. 5,000 jobs at risk:Abattoirs facing closure’ Sydney Morning Herald. 21.05.1996

Orange

Australian Abattoirs, Beef processing abattoir, Orange 16/07/2014 Leave a comment

Other Names

Current Operation

Location   

  • Orange is located 250 km east of Sydney
  • Abbattoir is located on Clergate road

 

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

Operation   

History

1920’s

  • First opened by the Graziers meat service2

1960’s

  • by this period the plant was on of the largest meat works in NSW2
  • Soon dogged by2
    • stock shortages2
    • industrial action2
    • volatile export market2

1992

2002

  • Originally only a packing room, the slaughter floor was opened at this time2
  • Closed after only 9 months operation2
    • 350 people out of work2

2004

  • June. Last 18 months meatworks in Woy Woy, Mudgee abattoir (NSW), Orange, Forbes abattoir (NSW) have all closed, loss of close to 500 jobs.3
  • Bindaree Beef announce a major recruitment drive that would lead to 1,200 new jobs at the abattoir2

2005

  • August. Recruitment drive on hold as plant is limited to ‘value adding ‘ operation at present2
  • Work has been carried out at plant over the last 4 years is continuing2

2010

  • article notes that the Orange abattoir was closed and scrapped. (not date specific)3

Sources

  1. ‘Abattoir cuts 150 jobs’ AMIEU Archives. 05.07.2004
  2. ‘Bindarees Beef’s 1,200 jobs are still on hold’ Central West Daily 14.08.2005
  3. ‘Who is JR McDonald’ The Land 05.03.2010

SA Abattoirs listed.

Australian Abattoirs, Kangaroo Island, Murray Bridge, Peterborough, South Australia, Uncategorized 04/07/2014 Comments: 2

This is a list of the abattoirs

Bordertown

Kangaroo Island

Normanville

Peterborough Abattoir (SA). Owned by Samex. Horse meat processor.

Caboolture

Australian Abattoirs, Caboolture, Peterborough, Queensland, Queensland list A-Z, South Australia, Southern QLD 04/07/2014 1 Comment

Located in Queensland, one of only 2 abattoirs in Australia accredited for export of horse meat.

Other Names

  • Meramist 1

Current Operation

  • Caboolture is operating as at 2014.2
  • AUS-MEAT accreditation #3416.2
    • Export beef accredited.2

 

Location   


 

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • Meramist Pty Ltd1

Operation   

  • Peterborough (SA) and Caboolture (QLD) are Australia’s only licensed horse abattoirs able to export horse meat to European Union (EU) Countries.1

History

2012

  • Australian horse meat export industry strengthened and approved by the EU1

2014

  • June. Investigation launched by Department of Agriculture in to complaints that horse meat exported from Australian abattoirs for human consumption fails to meet strict EU standards.1
  • Complaint specifically relates to horses bought at Echuca (Victoria) saleyards, some which were sent to Peterborough (SA) abattoir
    • All horses processed came with Horse Vendor declarations1
      • Confirms treatment of the horses in previous 6 months1
  • Horse meat industry valued at $10M a year in the past decade1
    • Only 117 tonnes ($830,000 in value) exported to EU in past 12 months.1

 

Sources

  1. ‘Australian horse meat exports in doubt following standards complaint’ ABC News 21.06.2014
  2. AUS-MEAT Accreditation Listing. Current as at 01.01.2014

Peterborough

Australian Abattoirs, Peterborough, South Australia 04/07/2014 Leave a comment

Located in South Australia, one of only 2 abattoirs in Australia accredited for export of horse meat. Peterborough also processes camels.

Other Names

  • Samex abattoir1

Current Operation

  • Is currently operating in 2014
  • Establishment #7502
    • Export registered2

Location   

Peterborough

 Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

Operation   

  • Peterborough and Caboolture (QLD) are Australia’s only licensed horse abattoirs able to export horse meat to European Union (EU) Countries.1
  • Processes Camels.2
    • Under Islamic rites and religious requirements2

History

2012

  • Samex acquire Peterborough
  • Australian horse meat export industry standards strengthened and approved by the EU1

2013

  • Caboolture (QLD) and Peterborough are currently processing 10,000 – 15,000 camels per year.3
    • Bond Springs (NT) is processing 20 camels per week.3
    • Feral Camel population is estimated to be 250,000-300,000 in the NT3
      • National cull occuring to reduce numbers.3
        • Up to June 2013 about 64,000 camels been culled3
        • with estimates of further 25-30,000 to be culled.3
      • Significant challenges with the supply chain and high transport cost to supply feral camels to abattoirs.3

2014

  • June. Investigation launched by Department of Agriculture in to complaints that horse meat exported from Australian abattoirs for human consumption fails to meet strict EU standards.1
  • Complaint specifically relates to horses bought at Echuca (Victoria) saleyards, some which were sent to Peterborough abattoir
    • All horses processed came with Horse Vendor declarations1
      • Confirms treatment of the horses in previous 6 months1
  • Horse meat industry valued at $10M a year in the past decade1
    • Only 117 tonnes ($830,000 in value) exported to EU in past 12 months.1

 

Sources

  1. ‘Australian horse meat exports in doubt following standards complaint’ ABC News 21.06.2014
  2. Samex website
  3. Alice Springs Rural Review. December 2012.

NSW abattoir list A – Z.

Aberdeen, Australian Abattoirs, Bega, Blayney, Bourke, Camperdown, Collarenebri, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Cootamundra, Cowra, Culcairn, Dubbo, Duringula, Forbes, Goulburn, Grafton, Gundagai, Gunnedah, Guyra, Harden, Inverell, Lismore, New South Wales, Oberon, Uncategorized 26/05/2014 Leave a comment

This list is only of those facilities currently on this blog.

For sites in other parts of Australia, go to Australian Abattoir Locations

 

Aberdeen abattoir. Closed. Last owned by AMH

Bega. Current operation unknown

Blayney abattoir. Closed Last owned by ANZCO

Bourke (Proposed) Goat

Camperdown

Casino abattoir. Currently operating

Collarenbri. Proposed goat abattoir

Coonabarabran abattoir. Closed

Coonamble abattoir

Cootamundra

Cowra abattoir. Currently operating

Culcairn

Deniliquin abattoir. Current operation unknown

Dubbo abattoir. Currently operational. The largest sheepmeat processing facility in Australia.

Duringula abattoir

Forbes abattoir (NSW)

Goulburn abattoir

Grafton

Gundagai

Gunnedah

Guyra abattoir

Harden abattoir. Closed in 2006.

Inverell. Better known as Bindaree Beef. Currently in operation.

Lismore

Oberon abattoir

______________________________________________________________________________

Aberdeen abattoir

Now closed, located in north east NSW, was last owned by AMH.
Historically a very old facility – originally began in 1891. Most recently upgraded in 1996, closed 1999,

Bega

Opened in 2004 as a small species abattoir processing rabbits and poultry, located south of Canberra in NSW. Had operating cost issues in 2013, closure threatened.

Blayney abattoir

Located in southeast NSW. Began operations as a freezing works in 1900, became insolvent in 1996, then purchased by ANZCO, with debts still owing to unsecured creditors of $6M. Closed in 1998. AMIEU citing economic reasons rather than stock shortages as the main cause of closure.

Bourke (Proposed) Goat

2008 local council proposed establishment of a goat abattoir to process 1,500 goats a day.

Camperdown abattoir

Located only 8km Sydney, closed 1991 following violent industrial disputes.

Casino abattoir

Currently operating in 2014. The only Australian farmer co-operative abattoir of its kind. Specialised Wagyu plant that has two operating floors for different size slaughter animals.

Collarenebri (Proposed) Goat

Formally a failed emu and ostrich abattoir a proposal was put forward in 2008 to develop the site to process 750 goats a day for 8 months of the year.

Coonabarbran abattoir

Located 600km north west of Sydney. Was the only abattoir in the region that did service kill of 3 species, cattle, lamb and pigs. Had environmental pollution problems in 2008 which attracted legal action and fines. Closed in 2012 citing costs of fines from 2008 issues.

Coonamble abattoir

Closed in 2001 due to government GST and regulation costs, is currently being upgraded for reopening in 2014

Cootamundra abattoir

Cowra abattoir

Located 250km west of Sydney the abattoir has been through closures but is currently operating.
Commenced operations in 1970, pay disputes in 2006, administrator appointed in same year. While insolvent owner conducted illegal activity by transfer of deed to another company and allocating 1st mortgage status to it and not the bank, with employee entitlements last and unable to be paid. Administrators sold facility in 2007, it underwent significant upgrades in 2012 with CCTV installed.

Culcairn abattoir

Deniliquin abattoir

Deniliquin had a freezing works in the late 1800’s. The current abattoir was built at a different site and was operating prior to 1990. It opened and closed a number of times. Recently being sold the facility has undergone upgrades with intentions of being opened in 2013

Dubbo abattoir

Largest sheep meat processor in Australia currently in operation. A new plant built in 1988 which was the first to have a processing chain that was a hot boning system for mutton. When developed the employment was shift based and not tally as other abattoirs at the time. Did have a wool processing facility that is now closed. Production has been affected by supply of animals, high Australian dollar, sheep prices and reduction of the Australian sheep herd. It proposed in 2010 to merge 2 shifts for one as a 10 hour work day, unions resisted.

Duringula

Located mid north east NSW, currently closed. Local government considering injecting funds for refurbishment of the facility.

Forbes abattoir

Located southwest NSW, built in the 1950’s, owned and operated by Japanese 1988 to 2003. Plant required significant capital upgrades which the owners were not prepared to do and it closed in 2003. Talk of reopening in 2013.

Goulburn abattoir

Located 200km southwest of Sydney and north of Canberra. Has faced major shortage of animal supply issues in the past due to drought and decreased national sheep herd. Recently increased costs of water affected operations

Grafton abattoir

Gundagai abattoir

Gunnedah abattoir

Guyra abattoir

Was operating prior to 1960 as a government owned facility, closed to be reopened by the council as a service kill facility. Racking up substantial debts of $6M these were waived at sale in 1985 to be reopened then closed again in 1993. AMH purchased around this time and entered into a partnership with DR Johnston to operate. Involved in significant industrial disputes the plant was regarded as marginal it was closed permanently in 1996. Currently being considered for development of the site as a rabbit farm

Harden abattoir

Built in the 1970’s by council, Southern meats purchased and ran Harden with a US consortium. US sheepmeat import tariffs caused short operational closures but lack of supply of animals due to extended drought caused final closure in 2006.

Inverell abattoir

Located in northern NSW, a privately owned abattoir more commonly known as Bindaree Beef. Recently received $23M government grant for a biogas project. Negotiations in 2014 with union regarding EBA have stalled, workers have had a number of stop works in recent months over pay disagreements.

Lismore abattoir

Oberon abattoir

Located 200km east of Sydney, Privately owned facility that was shut for a period due to a business deal. Re-opened in 2014 targeting Asian market preferences in Sydney.

Lismore

Australian Abattoirs, Lismore, New South Wales 26/05/2014 Leave a comment

Other Names

Current Operation

Location   

  • Lismore is located in the far north east of NSW close to the border with Queensland

Lismore

Lismore #2

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • A1

Operation  

  • Has a strong domestic supply to its own localities1

History

1996

 

Sources

  1. ‘5,000 jobs at risk: abattoirs facing closure’ Sydney Morning Herald 21.05.1996

Gunnedah

Australian Abattoirs, Gunnedah, New South Wales 26/05/2014 Leave a comment

Located north east of Wagga Wagga. Originally Gunnedah was a service abattoir owned and operated by the local council. It increasingly developed serious debt problems and received a number of assistance packages from Federal and state government to maintain operations. Sold to private enterprise in 1996 it only operated a very short time before permanently closing in 1997.

Other Names

Current Operation

  • Closed 1997.3

Location   

  • Gunnedah is located in northern NSW, approximately 550 km north of Sydney

Gunnedah

Gunnedah 2

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • Gunnedah Shire abattoirs1
    • Manager Ray Grout1
  • Edmonds Meat Exports3 (1996 – 1997
    • Manager Peter Spackman3

Operation   

  • Export abattoir1

History

1957

  • Gunnedah abattoir established.4
    • One of four strategic local government abattoirs4
    • Set up by state government to boost local employment and offer processors and producers their own regional selling centre.4
    • Gunnedah was the most successful and once described as the shining light of the meat processing industry4
    • At its peak the abattoir through service operators had 600 employees.4

1994

  • One of Australia’s biggest export abattoirs1
  • April. Ray Grout gave notice of resignation, council accepted but then Ray Grout wanted his job back and it was refused.1
    • Ray Grout won the right for reinstatement as Gunnedah abattoir manager then changed his mind1
      • claimed $100,000 damages.1

1996

  • April. Facility had soaked up $1.8M in council support since 19932
  • Currently employs 200 people2
  • Fallen on hard times8
    • partly due to effects of extended drought in northern NSW8
    • abattoirs lack of meat industry experience8
  • Delivers $150M into the regional economy each year.2
  • Report conducted by Price Waterhouse findings2; to determine the role the abattoir played in the regional economy and to see if there was any hope of returning it to profitability8
    • Recommended abattoir be corporatised and assets transferred to a seperate legal entity8
    • Independent board with meat industry experience8
    • abattoir to be sold at any reasonable offer or closed if the business remains unviable and sale is unlikely within 2 years8
    • package of state and Federal government assistance8
    • Acknowledged plant was uncompetitive2
        • but could be salvaged under new management if it corporatised for preparation for sale within 2 years.2
        • Federal government received  $1.25M in quarantine service fees and $2.5M PAYE each year2
  • State and Federal government deal to prop-up facilities operations.2
    • $2.1M. in total2
      • $1.1M. exemption from payroll tax and stamp duty2
      • $1M. Quarantine and hygiene inspection costs pickup up by Commonwealth.2
      • Gunnedah was the most strategically placed in eastern Australia2
      • Gunnedah was one of only 5 abattoirs licensed to export to the 5 key export regions2
  • Describing the problems at the abattoir2 as an
    • “example of everything that is wrong in Australia’s meat industry” – John Carter, Former head of NSW Meat industry authority.2
    • “The situation at the Gunnedah works is indicative of the endemic problems that seriously threaten the competitiveness of Australia’s second largest export industry” – John Carter.2
    • “Last week Australia utilised just 69% of its killing capacity compared to the US, which was working at 200% by doubling its shifts – and we wonder why we are failing to compete” – John Carter.2
    • “200 abbatoirs must be cut to around 50 if we are to be competitive” John Carter2
  • May. $1M assistance package is put in place.6
    • $1M over a 2 year period by state8
    • Federal government gave some concessions on quarantine and inspection services8
      • Council implement recommendations of Price-Waterhouse report – included appointing a new board.6
        • Greg Upton – Grazier and Chairman of North west electricity6
        • Jason Strong – Chairman of the Cattleman’s union and National livestock marketing board.6
        • Authors Note – Not sure if this is the same man. Jason Strong appointed Chief Executive of Australian Agricultural Company in 20145
      • 4 companies have approached council about establishing operations in Gunnedah6
        • included on of the worlds largest corporations.6
  • Up to half of NSW 56 abattoirs could close with the loss of up to 5,000 jobs7

    Authors Note – Majority of live export cattle during this period would have been Bos Indicus or crosses to South East Asia markets, sourced from mainly northern Australia. Not animals suited to heavy slaughter in Australia and from herds whos’ production was not likely destined for abattoirs in NSW.

    • LE exports 1990_1998_edited-2Source – Live Cattle Exports. Australian Commodities Vol 5 #2 June 1998

     Chart showing the high volume of South East Asia live cattle export destinations period 1990 – 1998

  • State government concessions designed to prop up the ailing Gunnedah abattoir were hastening their demise.7
    • forced other abattoirs to compete with inefficent works being handed unfair trading advantage7

    December. Abattoir sold to Edmonds Meat Exports.3

 

 1997

  • April. Plant offically reopened.8
    • Record kill levels 30% above council management8
    • Hope new abattoir will expand into sheep, pigs with a view to new exports in Europe8
  • Other retailers have set up in Gunnedah – McDonalds.8
  • Turkish investor is interested in Gunnedah tannery for purchase and expansion8
  • Abattoir now has $10M debt.8
  • 370 workers put off3
    • mostly casual staff3
    • Not sacked , when market improves would endeavour to re-employ3
  • Plant was paying more for cattle but getting less for product  when it was sold overseas3
  • Companies decision was inevitable and would have come even if the meatworks was not privatised3
    • had been expected for a while due to conditions in the industry3

Sources

  1. ‘Legal dispute over dismissal or resignation’ Sydney morning herald. 23.11.1994
  2. ‘Call to Scrap $2.1M abattoir rescue plan’ Sydney morning herald. 08.04.1996
  3. ‘Abattoir shutdown a jolt for Gunnedah’ Sydney morning herald 14.10.1997
  4. ‘A giant in the life of Gunnedah – 100 years since O’Keefe born’ Namoi Valley Independent 23.10.2012
  5. ‘Strong happy to shoulder the load’ Stock and Land 24.04.2014
  6. ‘Gunnedah shire abattoir’ Parliamentary Hansard, 14.05.1996
  7. ‘5,000 jobs at risk: Abattoirs facing closure’ Sydney morning herald. 21.05.1996
  8. ‘Gunnedah shire abattoir’ Parlimentary hansard 17.04.1997

Gundagai – South. (Est #106) (NSW)

Australian Abattoirs, Gundagai, New South Wales 25/05/2014 Leave a comment

Other Names

Current Operation

Location   

  • Gundagai is located 70 km east of Wagga Wagga

Gundagai

Gundagai 2

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • A1

Operation   

  • Aus-Meat Accreditation. As at 02/10/2017.
    • Export abattoir processing Beef, sheep and pigs.

History

1996

 

 

Sources

  1. ‘5,000 jobs at risk: Abattoirs facing closure’ Sydney Morning Herald 21.05.1996