Australian Abattoirs

Current Operation 

• Closed, burnt down 1988.

Location 

• Smith St beside railway siding, is now abandoned and derelict with some area of the lot used as a storage and freight depot.

Locations of other Australian abattoirs

Owner    

• As at 1984. Wales meat. (Sydney based)⁶

Operation

• Employed 130 workers^4.

History

• 1^st abattoir- The Gap
• Built by army^2.
• Buildings sub standard and no longer met hygiene standards in 1968. Location was in a increasinly urbanised section of town and a major access point through the Gap.

Authors Note. In researching this site I came across a number of adverts which I think illustrate that period of time technology and thoughts. They are not necessarily in relation specifically to the Alice Springs Smith street abattoir.

1960

Source. Beef in Northern Australia – JH Kelly. 1971. Pg 9

1962

• Australian Labor party branch meeting complain of deplorable conditions at the Alice Springs abattoir (Alice Springs #1. The Gap). Describing conditions as a major health hazard for Alice Springs^12.
  • Consideration is urged to build a new abattoir further from the town.
  • Local butchers were disgusted with the slaughter conditions and lack of fly proofing of the facility with meat often covered in flies.
    • Meat was at time blown by the time it was collected.
  • Blood and offal was allowed to lie in heaps on the open ground
  • Complaints had been made in the past 12 months with some improvements occurring.
  • A pressing need was for a cool-room to be constructed to hold slaughtered meat

1963

• Darwin. A  £300,000 export and home market abattoir will be opening in Darwin in Mid May^13..
  • Being built by William Angliss – a subsidiary of the British company Vesteys Limited.
  • Company paid £5/10/0 per 100lbs dressed weight
    • The highest price paid to Top End Cattlemen ever.
    • Hong Kong markets pay 5 and half d. per pound on the hoof.
  • A private company has lodged plans to open an abattoir in Katherine costing £200,000
    • Katherine company announced it would pay £5 per 100lbs dressed weight and would be operating by the end of March
  • Two abattoirs in the Top end will mean the first competitive market that Top End cattle have ever had
    • “It could lead to increased prices and stability in a shaky industry” Director of Animal Industries Mr Whittam
• October. Katherine and Darwin abattoirs are forced to delay killing stock as their coldstores are full due to delays in ships loading meat at the Darwin Port⁸⁷.
  • Katherine abattoir may be forced to close a month early for the season⁸⁷

1964

• July. Katherine abattoir operation is being impacted by high electricity and freezer charges, shocking road conditions and inadequate loan funding from the government^14.
• Drought conditions are prevailing in the Alice Springs area with some areas having received only light falls in early June^15..
  • Cattle are generally in poor condition in the area
• September. Top End abattoirs may be forced to slow down operations due to uneconomic levels because of low cattle number supply for coming season^16..
  • Reports indicate Katherine and 10 mile abattoir were currently working at capacity
  • Numbers of stock were available but higher meat prices needed to paid and better control of stock on properties was required.
    • Mataranka station was fencing at area at £300 a mile
      • prices of fencing  were considered crippling unless higher stock prices were received
      • 30,000 cattle were killed at the 2 meatworks this season
        • Each was expected to end their seasons in a few weeks

1965

• March. Unsigned Letter to the Editor of Centralian Advocate indicates that a new abattoir site is being considered beside the one being suggested at the current trucking yards (Smith Street)⁸⁸
  • Water supply is an issue as water is gravity fed in Alice Springs at this time⁸⁸
  • there is a bitumen road to the site and cattle are already trucked there to reach the railway siding for loading⁸⁸

1968

• US quota diversification scheme took effect (pg 64)^10.
  • disadvanteagd northern works who were most suited to grinding markets.¹⁰
  • R Condon – Katherine #2 (NT) was chief spokesperson that argued for special consideration of northern works under the US beef quota system¹⁰
  • Number of Northern plants received special allocations for US beef quota.¹⁰
  • Alice Springs abattoir was given 2,000t quota to US.¹⁰
  • US quota was worth $1B at the time¹⁰
• March. Announcement in Canberra calling for tenders to build new abattoir²
  • Based on a plan would allow for expansion to overseas export markets²
  • Costs of Killing charges would have to be adjusted for new facilities, cost to build $370,000²

• June. Difficulty in settling contracts for construction and tenders³
  • Intended to be a multi purpose – as in kill local and export³
  • Building intended to start before the end of the year³
• October. Site was constructed west of town, next to railway trucking yard⁴
  • Contractors to build – West Australian Contractors Universal constructions Pty Ltd⁴
  • Scheduled to open March 1969⁴
    • Provided the sub-contractors were ready to begin
    • Work had begun on the killing floor (first floor above the ground)
      • require 160 cubic yards of concrete
    • Cattle race and another for pigs and sheep had been poured and wooden slats would be laid in them
    • Frames and floor of the skin drying shed have been completed
    • Earthworks around the abattoir had been completed except diversion of the creek.
    • mains water had been laid
  • Set up to kill cattle, pigs and sheep

1969

• February. Abattoir is nearing completion of first stage and is available for lease or purchase^17.
  • Applications could be made and received to the close of 2pm 28/03/1969¹⁷
  • Government was under no obligation to accept any offers¹⁷
    • Government had always intended that private enterprise take over the abattoir¹⁹
• Abattoir had been built to plans prepared under the supervision of the Commonwealth department of Primary Industries¹⁷.
  • Would initially only cater to local requirements¹⁷
  • Met the standards of export and modern hygiene requirements¹⁸
    • Complete on the rail dressing
      • carcases never touched the floor
      • Large storage chillers
  • Design allowed for considerably higher kill capacity than old facility¹⁸
    • as requested by the pastoral community¹⁸
      • take advantage of opportunities to export interstate chilled quarters¹⁸
  • Designed for throughput of 10,000 head per year¹⁹
    • Capable of further expansion if required
• Construction was hoped to be finished by late April¹⁷
• November. New Alice Springs abattoir would be opened by mid December¹⁸
  • Government charges would be significantly increased for inspection and slaughter with the government subsidising by about $3 per head¹⁸
  • Killing charge from $1.95 to $10.70 per head
    • Butchers estimate charges would raise price of meat 7c per lb
  • Comparable abattoirs – Darwin were charged $10.25 per head including the killing.
  • Alice Springs butchers were expected to provide their own labour while the government ran the abattoir pending a lease or sale
• Minor items of equipment remained to be installed¹⁸.
• Government were expected to soon close the old abattoir at Gap road (Alice Springs #1) and withdraw the inspector there¹⁸.
  • Force the new abattoir to be used as no meat can be sold for human consumption unless it has been inspected
  • Higher kill capacity resulted in higher interest and depreciation charges on a “per head” basis
  • Costs would be reviewed.
• December. 2 butchers announce they will refuse to use the new abattoir under the planned charges¹⁹
  • Mr Terry Leigh and Mr George Summers

1970

• March. Abattoir is sold to an Alice Springs Company $452,300¹⁹
  • Company. Alice Springs Abattoir Pty Ltd¹⁹
    • Chairman of Directors Mr Terry Leigh (butcher by trade)¹⁹
    • Directors. Ted Hayes, Brian Bowman, Wally Mason and Tony Chisholm²⁰
    • Secretary Mr Peter Batty²⁰
    • Board comprised of town people, pastoralists and butchers¹⁹
      • Mr George Summers is involved in the company¹⁹
    • General Manager Mr Gerry Gentle²⁰
    • Shareholders include current town Mayor. Mr Jock Nelson²⁰
    • 25 shareholders in total⁹⁰
  • Local kill was planned initially¹⁹
    • for local butchers and delivery to their shops
  • By Products plant was being installed costing $70,000¹⁹
    • Produce blood and bone, manure and tallow
  • Installation of the by-products plant would enable better economic operation of the plant and it could better kill chilled beef for southern states¹⁹
  • Anticipated that initial kill would be 100 head of cattle per week¹⁹
    • Killing to occur one day a week
    • Employing 10 people
  • Government was now installing bitumen access roads¹⁹
• Local pastoralists are trucking cattle via the trains south to Maree and South Australia¹⁹
• Agreement to purchase at $452,000 based on a 40 year low-interest loan⁹⁰

 ^{Source – National Library of Australia. Alice Springs abattoir 1970}

^{Source – National Library of Australia. Alice Springs abattoir 1970}

^{Source – National Library of Australia. Alice Springs abattoir 1970}

Source. P. Bloomfield. 1970’s
Cattle in the yards at the Ghan rd abattoir.

Source P. Bloomfield. 1970’s
Shorthorn steers at the Ghan road abattoir.

Source P. Bloomfield. 1970’s
Cattle train – Alice Springs.

1972

An advert in the Centralian Advocate for Haulmark Trailers dated 18/05/1972

• May. Alice Springs Abattoir Pty Ltd is threatened with closure due to unpaid debt²⁰
  • Building contractors – Ferrari and Co were proceeding against the abattoir for $20,731²⁰.
    • Built and amenities block and an concrete enclosure for transformers
  • Before the petition for winding up the Alice Springs company abattoir could be presented the Alice Springs abattoir company obtained a interlocutory injunction to prevent it (petition) being lodged for one week²⁰
  • Delegation from the company and NT governments meet in Canberra with Prime Minister Mr McMahon²⁰
    • Delegation were to discuss obtaining guarantee of a loan to allow the abattoir to continue functioning under its present ownership
    • More than $100,000 of the paid up capital was from local sources
      • Locals and pastoralist would be hurt by the closure
  • Alice Springs abattoir company had rejected an offer to manage the abattoir by John Nankervis (Mudginberri)²⁰
    • Mr Nankervis was part owner, director and works manager of the Victorian meat company, H.W.Wilson Pty Ltd
    • Would have sought and interest, likely a controlling interest to manage the facility
• October. Minister for Primary Industries Mr Ian Sinclair inspects facility and listens to suggestions for improving its throughput^21.
  • Acknowledged financial difficulties of the operating company
• Suggestion that the mutton chain should be removed²¹
• Tuberculosis-reactive cattle were now being killed at the facility²¹
  • Meat went through certain processes and was safe for human consumption
  • America were still buying this sort of meat
• South Australia would likely come into line and implement a program to eradicate TB and Brucellosis²¹.
  • Federal government would ramp up the national TB and Brucellosis eradication campaign²¹
  • Failure to eradicate the disease would affect export markets²¹
  • It was hoped a scheme of compensation to the producers for the campaign would be formulate²¹
• Pastoralists were now getting ‘decent’ money for beef cattle and had the chance to meet the changing demands of the market²¹
• December. Rainfall for the year is a record 903mm recorded at Alice Springs Post Office⁹⁹
  • 778mm recorded at the Airport⁹⁹

1973.

• Australia answers a request by US Nixon administration to increase beef exports at short notice to the US to solve a domestic supply problem¹⁰¹

1975

• October. Industries Assistance Commission releases ‘Meat report’⁸⁹
  • Doesn’t recommend freight subsidies to Central Australian Cattle Producers⁸⁹
  • If a farm business is deemed non-viable by rural reconstruction authorities there could be provided a living for up to one year equivalent to unemployment benefits of the time⁸⁹
  • Loans limited to $15,000, at interest rates below 4%. Repayment after 2 years for purpose of carry-on finance⁸⁹
  • Meat export charge of 1.6 cents per pound remains. 0.6c goes towards BTEC program, 1c is used to recoup export meat inspection costs⁸⁹
    • Some beef producers were unable to turn off cattle as costs of freight to markets was costing more than was being received for sale of the animals⁸⁹
      • further supply of cattle to already low markets could actually drive prices lower⁸⁹
    • Mustering assistance was not made to producers who were bringing cattle together for the BTEC program⁸⁹
  • 3 local producers and a butcher propose building a third abattoir⁹⁰
    • Wamboden abattoir NT
    • Dissatisfaction with the operation of the Alice Springs abattoir⁹⁰
    • Producers think the works should look beyond supply of only the domestic market of Alice Springs
  • Alice Springs abattoir would lodge an objection to Wamboden but was unlikely to be successful in stopping the proposal⁹⁰
  • Current manager. Terry Leigh⁹⁰
    • Secretary Geoff Holdich⁹⁰
  • Alice Springs was currently killing 160 – 200 head a week⁹⁰
    • Capacity was 400 per week⁹⁰
  • Value of the works was now estimated at $1M⁹⁰
    • Loan agreement taken out in 1970/ 71 purchase was arranged for 40 years as low-interest⁹⁰
    • Payments to the government would be up to date by December 1975⁹⁰
  • Current assessment of market opportunities made upgrades to the facility to meet export requirements not profitable⁹⁰
    • Upgrades would cost $300,000⁹⁰
      • Installation required of boning room, blast freezers, more cold storage and general improvements such as tiling throughout the works⁹⁰
  • Meat quality was an issue with quality of stock on the general market too fat and not sought after by southern butchers⁹⁰
  • Most Centralian beef was exported for manufacturing purposes⁹⁰
    • A local restaurant was advertising it only served meat imported from the south.⁹⁰
  • Profitability of serving a wider market was doubtful under present market conditions⁹⁰
    • Stock purchased from Haasts Bluff area (200 east of Alice Springs) for $10 per head on property⁹⁰
      • Transport to Alice cost $13.70
      • Killing fee was $29.29 (slightly less than Adelaide)
      • Freight to Adelaide $16.27
      • Re-inspection and insurance $6.50
      • Made the average carcase cost $75.76 landed Adelaide
    • Price paid was 10c pound, average carcase weighed at 651 pounds⁹⁰
      • Average carcase returned $65.10
        • Loss of $10.66 realised
    • Local meat wholesalers were negotiating further contracts with southern retailers increasing a planned order to 200 carcases per week⁹⁰
  • Alice Springs abattoir committee management had approached Wamboden group opportunity to obtain financial interest and take part in management at the Alice Plant⁹⁰
    • Wamboden group declined⁹⁰
  • Wamboden abattoir begins operations and supplies meat to Gillen Meat store, IL Sorrentino and Woolworths⁹¹

Source Centralian Advocate 13.11.1975
Advertisement placed to sell meat from the local butcher IL Sorrentin Butchers

• Cattle turnoff in November from the Alice Springs area totalled 898 head⁹².
  • 451 to local butchers
    • 376 fats and 75 store
  • Alice Springs yard trucked 407
  • MacDonnell yard trucked 185
  • Finke yard trucked 306
• December. Cattle train from Alice Springs is cancelled as producers are concerned freight costs will exceed sale price of the stock⁹³.
• Good rains are received in the area with cattle prices also improving⁹⁴
  • Large numbers of stock in the region due to build up and result of low prices and good seasons
• December. Rainfall recorded for the region⁹⁹
  • Alice Springs Post Office 684mm⁹⁹
  • Alice springs Airport record 600mm⁹⁹

1976.

• January. Cattlemen’s Association of North Australia (CANA) feels better beef prices are about to occur¹⁰⁰
  • Current president  of CANA Bill Tapp¹⁰⁰
  • Forecast $15 per 100kg at the opening of the season¹⁰⁰
    • Return to the producer has been low¹⁰⁰
  • Expected beef prices to improve by 30%¹⁰⁰
• Government were negotiating better export deals¹⁰⁰
  • 90 – 96% of beef is being exported¹⁰⁰
    • US market forecast to take 300,000 tonnes in coming year¹⁰⁰
    • Note – later document states that 300,000 will be the increased amount.
      • represent 4% of total American consumption¹⁰⁰
    • Japan is expected to take 80,000 – 90,000 tonnes¹⁰⁰
    • Rest of export will go to SE Asia and Europe¹⁰⁰
• Rising abattoir costs and lack of slaughtering capacity in the NT for expected 190,000 cattle turn off is affecting producer returns¹⁰⁰
• Abattoir capacity in the NT at the present time only had 100,000 head capacity¹⁰⁰
• US increase beef import quotas¹⁰¹.
  • Quota will be 4.2% above the previous year¹⁰¹
    • Secure an additional 300,000 t¹⁰¹.
  • US export represents 52-53% of total American imports¹⁰¹.
  • Irish had been given a quota in 1974 that they did not take up and could be possibly given to Australian exporters¹⁰¹
• February. Alice Springs abattoir meat inspector is withdrawn for one week until minor repairs are conducted on the killing floor¹⁰²
  • re-packing of corroded insulation covers on some steam pipes¹⁰²
• Current abattoir manager – Terry Leigh¹⁰²
• Significant flooding in the area had affected stock supplies¹⁰²

1977

• March.Wales Australian Resources Pty Ltd, owners of the facility give assurance that it would kill stock for the local market in Alice Springs⁹⁵
  • $2M investment will be used to purchase and upgrade the facility to export standard⁹⁵
    • Hopes to gain US export licence through government assistance⁹⁵
    • Meeting was held 07/03/1977 with interested persons and government to consider the matter⁹⁵.
    • US export market would allow the abattoir to purchase all types of stock including cows and store cattle that were presently unsaleable⁹⁵.
• Managing director – George Whitaker⁹⁵
  • Current local market within the NT was insufficient to make the works viable for supply of only domestic product⁹⁵
• Properties were currently overstocked which was of concern to the Government and NT Soil conservation Board⁹⁵
• Abattoir is hoped to be back in production by the end of May⁹⁵
• June. Alice Springs abattoir operators delay commencement of killing from expected May 30²².
  • company would not commence killing for the domestic market before killing for the export because it may prejudice the grading of the export licence requirements²²
  • Killing was now expected to begin mid July²².
• New Owners of Alice Springs abattoir are said to have invested millions of dollars²².
  • No guarantee and export quota would be allocated to them
  • If the abattoir applies for a licence it will require Australian and American inspections
  • If USDA quota is allocated it would enhance the viability of the facility
    • At the moment there is only one standard of export licence that currently satisfies the USDA requirements
  • The abattoir has important function to process domestic kill for export and local sale.
    • Alice Springs area if heavily overstocked at the present time
• September. Facility is opened after a $2M refit of equipment²³
• November. Facility is shut due to rain and lack of markets forced a shutdown²³
  • Of the 150 employees 145 were laid off
  • Peak of production 450 cattle a day were being killed
    • Capable of throughput of 600 head
      • At operation of 600 head a day the facility would have employed 200 people

1978

• January. Centralian beef producers support their claim for an American beef quota for the Alice Springs abattoir²⁸
  • Meat and Livestock Corporation had decided not to grant an export quota to Alice Springs²⁸
    • newly constructed facility had to earn a quota under the meat diversification scheme
      • that could take a long time
      • Blue tongue virus restrictions prevented cattle being allowed to move interstate
      • Alice Springs was free of Blue tongue but was a buffer zone.
        • QLD had recently lifted transport restrictions with NSW currently considering lifting them also
        • SA still had a ban in place of cattle transported from the NT
      • Alice Springs would like 10,000 t of the as yet unallocated 30,000t
    • If the abattoir could not get a quota then an assistance scheme for local producers should apply to allow livestock to be transported to Adeliade²⁸
• Operations were scheduled to resume 10/01/1978 but will depend if markets can be found²³
  • future largely depended on the allocation of a quota
• Current manager of Alice Springs abattoir. Mr Lindsay Hart²³
• No other markets were available that warranted opening of the facility²³
• Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (AMLC) allocate quotas according to past performance of the facility¹⁰³
  • Put Alice Springs at a distinct disadvantage to other processors¹⁰³.
    • perpetuated benefits to established exporters¹⁰³
    • New works were being locked out of the lucrative USA, Japan and Canada markets¹⁰³
    • Alice Springs was the only area in Australia without a quota¹⁰³
      • Cattlemen claimed that an export quota would ease their financial and overstocking problems as there was no economic market for low grade stock because of high freight costs¹⁰³.
        • Some reports say Alice Springs region is overstocked by 50%
  • Alice Springs facility was undecided to complete further work on improvements or even re-open under present circumstances¹⁰³
    • Possibility facility would give a guarantee of price increase $10 -$20 per head above last year if a quota was made available¹⁰³.
    • Company had invested $2M into the facility so far¹⁰³.
      • may well have been a mistake if a quota is not received¹⁰³
  • Primary Industry minister – Ian Sinclair. says quota is not the answer to local cattleman’s problems¹⁰³
    • other measures needing reduction in restrictions were live exports overseas and into South Australia with reduction of blue tongue  impositions¹⁰³.
• Alice Springs facility was sending 2,500 tonnes of meat to markets in USA, Canada and Japan through quotas of southern meatworks¹⁰³.
• US special quota is received of 2,000 tonnes¹⁰⁴.
  • Had producer support¹⁰⁴
  • Once-only allocation approved by other growers¹⁰⁴
    • Other producers jealously guard their own abattoir interests and wanted to allocate only 500 tonnes to Alice Springs¹⁰⁴.
• South Australia is expected to lift the import ban of cattle from Central Australia because of a suspected outbreak of bluetongue¹⁰⁵
  • only apply to fat cattle intended for slaughter¹⁰⁵
  • Stock must be sold through Pooraka yards near Adelaide¹⁰⁵
    • NSW and Victorian interests would purchase Central Australian stock through these facilities¹⁰⁵
• March. A new type of railway container is used that utilises low temperature gas to keep goods cold on the 1600km trip to and from Adelaide²⁴

Alice Springs abattoir advert in the Centralian Advocate 09/03/1978

• September. Fumes from the abattoir are causing complaints of vomiting, headaches and nausea in the town residential regions²⁵
  • Scrubbers would be fitted to the air filters.²⁵
    • worked on principal of passing contaminated air through a spray of water
• Abattoir was in a healthy financial state in spite of low beef quotas²⁵
  • Some residents claim the abattoir was being irresponsible and was denying there were problems with the operation²⁵
    • chimney of the cooking stack was too low and did not allow the cooking smell to be lifted high enough and carried away
    • appropriate legislation would be introduced if the facility didn’t rectify the issue of smell.

1979

• January. Saleyard prices of cattle were likely to increase this year²⁶
  • Slaughterings expected to decline and prices increase about 20% above the previous years²⁶
• Peak in slaughter animals of NT abattoirs from 1979 to 1983 was due to increase cattle supply following beef slump of the mid 1970’s^11.
  • Southern Part of the NT was experiencing good seasons at this time

Insert chart of Number of cattle slaughtered at NT abattoirs 1978 – 1987

• Alice Springs abattoir is told by Producer group to appreciate the US quota it received and get on with the job
• April. Work begins on the clearance of a site at Tennant creek to build a $2M abattoir²⁷
  • Governments development corporation would lend $1M repayable over 7 years
  • Tennant creek area case indicated that the meatworks would be able to almost operate year-round²⁷
• May. Smell from the abattoir is plaguing Alice Community²⁹
  • Hearing is held that voices opinions of the public that the government are aware of the smell issue but will not take action to force the abattoir to rectify it
• US Import agreement for 10 years is made³⁸
  • Based on 8% of the US demand³⁸
  • Hamburger trade of meat that was then mixed with American product for sale as hamburgers³⁸
  • Half of the supply was coming from Australia³⁸

1980

• Brumbies are a significant issue on pastoral properties³⁰.
  • The Alice Springs abattoir rule out the killing of horses at the plant as it can only be used for beef export and would also require major change at the present complex
  • Current export licence that is the highest that can be obtained forbids the slaughter of horses at the facility
  • A mobile abattoir similar to that used in the Top end for Buffalo processing is considered for the horse issues.
• February. Alice Springs abattoir will open for the 1980 season on 20/02/1980³¹
  • Current manager Mr Tom McDougall
  • Interviews for general labour were being held at the plant
• Stations in the region are in need of rain after an extended dry period³²
  • Drought relief policy is to be considered for the region
• Kulgera trucking yards are near completion allowing the first south bound rail shipment of cattle to occur in the next week³²
  • Kulgera is located 250km south of Alice Springs on the Stuart Highway
• June. Legal action has been instigated by 2 residents against the abattoir to take action about the noxious fumes have been in the region for more than 3 years³³
  • Scrubbers had been installed at the facility but had little or no effect
• Meat industry Royal commission is hearing matters into ‘Roo in the stu’ substitution racket.
• A major scandal erupts due to Gratuity payments to meat inspectors at Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Katherine abattoirs³⁵
  • Gratuity had been accepted to cut out excessive bruising of stock by the inspectors instead of stopping the carcase chain each time and having a worker perform the task³⁵
    • Tennant Creek had paid inspectors up to $150 each a week³⁵
      • Similar payments occurred at Alice and Katherine³⁵.
    • If the payments were not made the inspectors would adhere so closely to  the government regulations as to make the plants operation impossible³⁵
      • Payments were to ensure the slaughterhouse production remained at optimum levels^36.
      • Payments had been disguised at ‘DPI’ or called handling charges³⁵.
    • No other meat inspectors around Australia outside of the NT received extra payment for the function^36.
  • Present arrangement of NT export abattoirs were supervised by DPI officers and inspectors based in Adelaide^36.
• September. USDA annual US meat quota has been removed³⁷
  • 90% of the kill in past years had been exported to the US
  • There was still 3 months and about 18,000 cattle left to slaughter in the season
  • Quota opened at 307,000t in January and was already half filled when the Territory season began³⁷. Authors note – Think the quota of 307,000 is for  just the NT abattoirs
• October. Throughput at the abattoir is a record kill of 11,000 head since it’s opening in August 1977³⁴
  • Average of 2,500 – 3,000 animals per week
  • Average monthly kill is usually about 10,000 head
  • Was hope that a kill of 80,000 would be killed this year prior to Christmas period
• Current Manager is Lindsay Hart³⁴
• Abattoir is faced with loss of a market and rising operating costs^37..
  • Electricity costs have risen by 34% in one year.
  • Labour costs have risen by 15-20%
    • Currently employs 155 people
  • Freight costs have risen 15%
  • Drought elsewhere means southern buyers are competing for cattle in the territory to keep their meat works at working capacities³⁷
  • Special consideration is requested of government for territory abattoirs³⁷
• Beef trade between Australia and the US was expected to remain strong³⁸
  • Scandal of meat substation played down in American media to protect their own industry³⁸
• Present Australian drought was likely to lead to a supply bulge early next year
• Current prices³⁸
  • $65 to $150 a head for cows
  • $100 to $300 a head for bulls
  • Freight costs to Adelaide were about $40 per head

1983        

• AMEU served logs of claims to set up tally system
• Costs $580,000 every year for electricity and diesel fuel^5.
• Consideration given to building another abattoir at Roe Creek yards⁵
• AMIEU – Ray Evans “..new abattoir is the only way out for Alice Springs”⁵
• Intended cost $1.5-$2M, possible site at Roe Creek cattle Yards, south of Alice Springs
• Alice Springs cost $60-70 to slaughter a beast – SA cost $23⁴       
• April. Tennant Creek abattoir hold a stop work protest  because they refuse to have routine health checks to assure free of transferrable diseases to the meat³⁸    .
  • Stoppage costs Tennant Creek facility $7,000 a day ³⁸
  • 1,500 cattle slaughter cancelled and redirected to other abattoirs in the NT and interstate³⁸
  • A union worker with past bad behaviour and was not allowed return to his job³⁹..
  • 400 men applied for 160 jobs³⁹.
  • Estimate wages of 160 jobs cost $100,000 to $150,000 a week³⁹.
• May. Workers return to work in Tennant Creek after 3 weeks strike³⁹.

Extract of article ‘Meat men start work’ Centralian Advocate 15/05/1983.
Illustrates the peer pressure to support other workers while striking at Tennant Creek and attitude of people in the community.

• August. Slaughtermen at Tennant Creek abattoir at height of the season can earn up to $1,250 per week⁴⁰
• Production of carcases at Tennant Creek abattoir could be valued at $21,000 per hour⁴⁰
• October. Angry crowd of 100 workers meet Federal Primary Industries Minister, John Kerin in Alice Springs⁴¹.
  • concerns over the number of cattle leaving the Alice Springs region to be slaughtered in other states⁴¹
    • 173,000 head left the Territory this year⁴¹
      • 100,000 head were slaughtered in South Australia⁴¹
    • Drain of cattle was affecting the Alice Springs abattoir viability⁴¹
  • Other issues were high electricity, freight and transport costs⁴¹
  • Federal Government had increased the kill levy⁴¹.
    • Meat substitution scandal had forced increases in cost due to increased inspection demands of overseas buyers⁴¹
      • Was $1.80, now $5.40 per head⁴¹
  • Mr Kerin could not offer relief to workers in one abattoir without giving assistance to other facilities⁴¹
    • Government would not dictate to producers where they could send their cattle⁴¹
    • General outlook for the meat industry was gloomy due to drought conditions⁴¹
      • some processors in other states were buying cattle only to maintain their export quotas⁴¹
    • TB campaign was expected to cause a decline in NT cattle numbers in the future⁴¹
  • NT Government officials had said that Territory pastoralists were reluctant to send their cattle to local meatworks because they would be caught up in industrial disputes⁴¹
    • AMIEU denied this claiming only 3 days of industrial action had occurred since 1977⁴¹
      • Claimed higher level workers had not had an increase in pay since 1977⁴¹
        • Wages were not linked to the CPI⁴¹
        • no penalty rates, overtime, holiday or sick pay⁴¹
      • Warned abattoir was in danger of closing with 70% of workforce prepared to leave the area to find other work⁴¹
• October. Federal Member for the NT Mr John Reeves proposes building a new meatworks⁴²
  • Federal Government is responsible for the areas of the workers major concerns
  • A new facility should be built at Roe Creek (10 km south of Alice Springs) and the Alice Springs abattoir on Smith st subsidised in in the interim⁴²
  • Advantages of new facility⁴²
    • freight reduction of $50,000 pa
    • run on reticulated gas  and cut down on fuel costs
      • Currently electricity and diesel cost $580,000 pa
    • New site could suit local production and export needs
    • Meat industry summit would be held in a few weeks to consider the issue
    • New abattoir would cost $1.5 – $2M
      • Costs would be expected to be quickly recouped
  • If the proposal for a new abattoir is not accepted it would likely close⁴²
  • Alice Springs abattoir cost $60-$70 per beast to operate⁴²
    • South Australia costs were $23 per head
  • Current workers at Alice Abattoir injected about $2.6M into the local economy⁴²

1984   

• January. Closed at this time⁶
  • Wales Meats – “doing everything possible to reopen”. “get the works back in tip-top condition”.⁶
  • Prices not paid comparable to southern abattoirs⁶
• April. Court dispute over the electricity bill means the abattoir will not open until May⁴⁴.
  • Owner of the Meat Works⁴⁴.
    • Sydney based. Wales Meats owns the company called Alice Springs Abattoir Pty Ltd⁴⁴.
      • Manager Mr Manfred Hochwallner⁴⁴.
      • Facility had been leased to another company Alice Springs Abattoirs NT Pty Ltd, had gone into liquidation⁴⁴.
        • Left an electricity bill of $100,000⁴⁴.
  • NT Government have directed that all outstanding money to to be repaid before the power will be reconnected⁴⁴.
• Killing season normally begins at the start of April in Alice Springs facility⁴⁴.
• Facility had been inspected by a freelance abattoirs consultant⁴⁴.
  • Mr Dough Vout ” (Alice Springs) was one of the best small meatworks in Australia“
• May. Facility would be opened first week in June⁴⁵.
  • NT Government have allowed the abattoir to open under special condition that Wales meat would pay a deposit of $100,000 and pay their electricity bill on a monthly basis⁴⁵.
  • Court case to be heard in the last week of May regarding the unpaid electricity⁴⁵.
• Maintenance had already started at the plant⁴⁵.
  • requiring $300,000 – $400,000 to have the plant up to standards⁴⁵.
• Approximately 130 people are employed at the plant⁴⁸

.

Cartoon appearing in the Centralian Advocate 11/05/1984 in regards to the re-opening of the Alice Springs abattoir

• July. 70 workers for a picket line to force the abattoir to pay them under an award⁴⁷.
  • Picket line would be manned continuously until a award equal to Tennant Creek abattoir was given⁴⁷.
  • Contract for this year was believed to be considerably less than previous years⁵¹
• Meatworkers were asked to sign an agreement stating⁴⁷
  • that “Evidence of workers’ compensation to be provided to the company by the group”⁴⁶.
  • the abattoir “wants to operate as in previous years”
  • Previously the company, not the group had paid workers compensation
  • If the workers paid the compensation it would be 25% of their earnings
• Meatworkers industry was one of the last in the NT to be brought under an award⁴⁷.
  • If the workers were under contract they were not able to claim
    • holiday pay, sick pay, termination pay or travel allowance
  • Unlike other abattoir workers Alice Springs workers were expected to buy, maintain and launder their own work clothes
  • They would pay their own taxes on wages
• Territory wide action was taken at other abattoirs not covered by an award⁴⁷
  • Point Stuart
  • Mudginberri
• Katherine and Tennant creek already operated under an award⁴⁷
  • “The only abattoirs that don’t go broke are those which have an award wage system” AMIEU QLD Assistant branch Secretary Mr Nelson Williams⁴⁷
    • Katherine closed officially 2002, reported last kill at this time but other reports say had been mothballed since 2000⁴⁸
    • Tennant Creek. Authors note – think this facility closed around sometime 1990
• August. Workers return to work following 5 weeks of industrial action⁴⁹
  • Hearing before the Full Bench of the Arbitration Commission⁴⁹
    • Hearing was held in Darwin⁵¹
      • President Sir John Moore⁵¹
      • Commissioner MacKenzie⁵⁵
    • Decide if the workers would work under an award⁴⁹
      • An interim award was handed down⁵¹
      • Waiting upon further submissions and would make a final decision in early September⁵¹.
      • Return to work would be under terms that operated in 1983⁵¹
    • Final Decision handed down in September⁵¹
      • contract system of employment was appropriate for the Territory Industry⁵¹
        • But only for payment for work actually done⁵¹
      • Concerned⁵¹
        • Employees may be kept waiting in a remote area until slaughtering started⁵¹
        • present contract system didn’t give employees proper award coverage⁵¹
      • Full Bench did not prescribe a unit tally system⁵¹
        • AMIEU had pushed for tally system⁵¹
        • Set a minimum of $269.70 wage for 40 hour week⁵⁵
          • Additional awarded penalties to cover sick leave, annual closure, annual leave and overtime⁵⁵
            • increased the total pay to $330 per week⁵⁵
      • Full Bench did not extend the terms of the agreement applying at the Katherine meatworks to any other Territory abattoir⁵¹
        • AMIEU had been seeking private agreements such as the QLD Meatworks Industrial Agreement Award 1979
        • AMIEU wanted same conditions of pay as those at Katherine
      • Most abattoirs welcomed the decisions handed down⁵⁵
        • Except clause 33c⁵⁵
          • Gives employees the rights to negotiate their terms of employment with the owners, if necessary outside the AMIEU⁵⁵
          • Preference was to be given to union members over non-union members⁵⁵
        • National Farmers Federation, NT Cattleman’s Association also supported the commissioner findings⁵⁵
  • Meatworks operators were re-examining the situation including the lateness of the season⁴⁹
• Abattoir is unlikely to open this season⁵⁰
  • two thirds of the stock mustering in the area was already completed⁵⁰
  • Appears that this late in the season there wouldn’t be enough stock to process⁵⁰
  • Facility would require several weeks to reach optimum level⁵⁰.
• September. Abattoir would not open this season⁵¹.
  • No point in opening this late in the season⁵¹
    • Was hopeful it would open in 1985⁵¹
  • recent rains in the area has also hindered mustering⁵¹
  • Peak of the season is June through to September⁵¹
    • Stock had been in the yards ready to kill when the workers went on strike for 5 weeks⁵¹.
  • Member for MacDonnell, Mr Neil Bell believed the abattoir had not been serious about opening this year⁵¹

1985

• February. Some Meatworkers in the Territory could earn up to $1,000 per week⁵².
  • Employees employed on daily or weekly basis⁵²
    • No notice if no work was available⁵²
  • Meatworker in Adelaide were earning $400 -$500 per week for 50 weeks of the year⁵²
  • Other isolated abattoirs were paying $600 – $1,000 a week⁵².
  • Some Members of Alice Springs had back tax bills of $15,000⁵²
• Tennant Creek would not be opening this season due to high costs of operation⁵².
  • Other reasons were limited sources of poor quality cattle for the hamburger trade⁵².
  • Less than 20% of the workers at the abattoir lived permanently in the area⁵²
• April. Wet season had been poor in the Top end⁵³.
  • Top end abattoirs expecting a short season⁵³
  • Only some Southern stations receiving summer rains⁵³
    • Many having to consider destocking some cattle in the coming months if rain didn’t occur⁵³.
    • Alice Springs station owners expected to initially rush to destock some animals to conserve fodder⁵³
• BTEC was still in progress and forced slaughter of breeding stock would cause disasterous vacuums in restocking programs⁵³
• UD demand largely determines the contract prices of the whole of the Pacific Basin⁵⁴.
  • 60% of the Pacific Basin Beef trade is to the US⁵⁴
  • A large volume of highly subsidised meat from the European Economic council through Europe, North Africa and the Middle East⁵⁴
• May. Sales through Alice Springs agents has been heavy⁵⁵
  • Normally 2,500 head per week⁵⁵.
    • Currently selling 3,000 head per week⁵⁵
      • 95% going to Adelaide as Export bodies⁵⁵
        • 20% retained at stores for fattening⁵⁵
    • Rail system has helped producers with 390 cattle vans going from Alice Springs railhead weekly⁵⁵.
• BTEC funding would be scaled back by $36M⁵⁶
  • Castrated the Territory and Kimberley BTEC programs⁵⁶
    • Funding was to compensate testing and upgrading of properties⁵⁶.
• Federal government were considering eliminating the fuel freight subsidy scheme⁵⁶
  • 4c per litre⁵⁶
• Tailtagging of cattle with a PIC (Property Identification Number) is made mandatory⁵⁷

Article appearing in Midweek Territorian 22/05/1985 Instructing how to apply a tail tag.

• Major confrontation is looming between meatworks and facility⁵⁸
• Major issue is Incentive payments⁵⁸
  • AMIEU had been meant to meet a week earlier but had not turned up, AMIEU says representative had been caught up in Tennant Creek⁵⁸.
  • AMIEU plans to picket the works⁵⁸
• Current meatworks operator Mr Con Stamos⁵⁸
  • Stamos has leased the facility from Wales Meat Exports for a trial period⁶³
    • If the killing season for 1985 was successful he may consider buying it⁶³
      • UNION claim Stamos is only the manager⁶³
• Works are being prepared for start in June⁵⁸
• Power struggles within the AMIEU are seen as attempting to the destroy the Territory cattle industry and not representing the workers⁵⁹
• AMIEU repeatedly hammer the point that “employees have no say in running of the union whatsoever” Federal Industrial director of the Meat and Allied Trade Workers Employers Association, Ron Burdis⁵⁹
• Employees say they have to accept a 50% cut in wages if the union leaders instructions are accepted⁵⁹.
  • “Industry is being taken over by paid union employees from other states who have little comprehension or consideration of Territory conditions” Ron Burdis⁵⁹
• Territory meatworkers are the last to be employed under the ‘payment by result’ system⁵⁹
  • Others having adopted tally system many years⁵⁹
    • has been disastrous to the prosperity of the abattoirs, the cattlemen and the workers alike in those states⁵⁹
• Australian and New Zealand beef suppliers to Taiwan are facing stiff competition from EEC and in particular Swedish packers⁶⁰.
  • 1983 / 1984 Australia and New Zealand supplied 23,000 metric tonnes of low grade meat to Taiwan⁶⁰.
  • In 1985 Sweden is expected to take 30% of market with heavily subsidised meat⁶⁰.
    • First shipments to occur in December⁶⁰.
      • Chilled knuckles from Australia $US2.53 kg⁶⁰.
        • Equivalent from Swedan purchased for $US0.80 – $1.76 per kg⁶⁰.
    • Quality of some meats from Swedan had been downgraded to be advantageous to Australia⁶⁰.
• Mudginberri, Victoria Valley and Menaling (Batchalor) are still embroiled in protracted strike action⁶¹
  • Vic River abs. Example of a workers wage⁶¹
    • Gross $167 week⁶¹.
      • Deductions Tax $50, Board $50
        • Net $67
• Further dispute is occurring within the AMIEU due to wording of clause 33c⁶¹.
  • Employees are given alternative to negotiate own agreements with employers⁶¹
    • Industrial award was intended to only apply to NT workers⁶¹.
  • Arbitration Act 1925 clearly states individual agreements is against union rules⁶¹
    • Expulsion or fine of $1,000 as penalty⁶¹
    • interstate unions wish to affect control over the whole of Australia⁶¹
    • “Some people need protection for their own benefit, as many enter into agreements that leave them clearly disadvantaged” Trevor Surplice, Industry Employees Union secretary⁶¹
• Meatworkers picket begins 27.05.1985 after discussions fail the previous week⁶²
  • Workers want the tally system used elsewhere in Australia⁶²
    • Don’t want the cents per carton incentive scheme as proposed by management⁶²
      • Union president Mr Werris Noble⁶²
      • Scheme doesn’t reward fast individual workers⁶⁴
      • Workers were paid on an hourly rate⁶⁵
        • Preferred to be paid according to number of head killed⁶⁵
      • No penalty rates for overtime⁶⁴
      • Scheme was less than pay received 2 years previously⁶⁴
      • Previously 6 boners had processed 700 beasts a day and received $400 for the weeks work⁶⁶
• Workers had already been out of work for a year⁶²
  • 80 people who still were in the town who had worked for the abattoir⁶²
  • Protest was entering 4th week⁶⁴
• June. 14 Meeting is held⁶⁴.
  • AMIEU were preparing a new set of rates⁶⁴
    • Include a guarantee of no further industrial action for the rest of the season⁶⁴
    • No limit on the kill⁶⁴
• Unclear when the abattoir would re-open⁶⁴
  • Reported plans to kill 700 head per day and management were buying cattle⁶⁴
• Some station properties in the Central Australian region are drought declared⁸⁶
• July 12. Mudginberri picket in the Top end is outlawed by the Federal Court by Judge Mr Justice Morris.⁶⁶
  • AMIEU refuse to lift the picket ⁶⁶
    • AMIEU are fined $100,000, imposed for contempt of court⁶⁶
    • already been fined $40,000 for defying an order to lift the picket line⁶⁶
    • May also pay $3.1M in damages to the Mudginberri abattoir ⁶⁶
      • Final decision of $1.8M in damages was awarded to Mudginberri⁷⁶
    • Mr Jay Pendarvis, owner of the Mudginberri abattoir is named Australian of the year because of his defiance of the union system⁶⁹
• August. Supreme court hand down a decision in favour of NT Electricity commission to apply $50,000 in payment from the deposit/bond paid in May 1984⁷¹.
• AMIEU claim that the decision to re-open the abattoir rests entirely with the management⁹⁶.
• Abattoir manager – Con Stamos⁹⁶.
  • AMIEU wanted Mr Stamos to approach the AMIEU to talk about the type of work pay system used⁹⁶..
    • AMIEU wants to work under tally system⁹⁶.
    • Con Stamos wants to use contract system⁹⁶.
• Abattoir workers had placed a ban on processing any stock owned by Grant Heaslip, who was president of the NTCA and owner of Wamboden (NT)⁹⁶.
• NTCA in conjunction with NFF had threated to picket any NT abattoir working under the tally system⁹⁶.
  • Workers felt it was hypocritical to protest against the tally system while sending cattle to other states for slaughter under the same system⁹⁶.
• Primary Production Minister – Steve Hatton calls for a branch office of Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation to be established in Darwin⁹⁷.
• The “whole meat industry debacle was caused  because the AMIEU  did not accept a decision handed down last year by the full Bench of the Arbitration Commission” NT Confederation of Industry and Commerce spokesperson Shane Coyne⁹⁸.
  • AMIEU had pickets works throughout 1984⁹⁸
  • Agreement had been made to cease all industrial action and argue case in the commission⁹⁸
    • Now AMIEU refused to accept the decision and should expect legal action against them⁹⁸
• September 3. Abattoir begins operations after not having processed any cattle for 2 years⁶⁵
  • 72 head of cattle had been trucked through the picket line⁶⁵
  • Picketers yelled abuse at workers unloading cattle⁶⁵
  • Picket has been in place for 3 months⁶⁵
    • Tents had been set up outside the gates⁶⁵
  • AMIEU QLD secretary Mr John Brady in attendance⁶⁵
    • Any meat processed would be declared ‘black^‘65
    • AMIEU achieved one of it’s aims in picketing when the work’s export licence had been revoked⁶⁵
    • “AMIEU picketers were working to having the local export licence revoked and the abattoir declared non-operational when the picket was lifted” President of the Alice Springs AMIEU Mr Wirri Noble⁶⁵
• Alice Springs abattoir is flooding local market with cheap meat⁶⁵
  • Only 7 workers were inside the facility slaughtering and processing the cattle⁶⁵
• Graziers and stock agents were no longer supporting the works and sending cattle south⁶⁵
• National Farmers Federation comfirmed union fears that NFF wish to us Mudginberri and the new Territory meat processing award as a precedent to establish contract labour throughout Australia’s abattoirs⁶⁶
• December. Problems with Alice Springs carcase disposal sites and effluent in a near by creek.⁶⁷
• Management deny the problems are due to the abattoir as waste product is piped to holding pits and there are not problems with them⁶⁷.
  • Council health authorities insist any potential health hazards from the abattoir are rectified before operation begins⁶⁸
  • Abattoir had been releasing wastes into the creek, diluted paunch material taken from cattle’s intestines. pipeline had been blocking up⁶⁸
  • Abattoir had not been in operation for over 5 weeks and it was unclear by authorities as to how the waste material had been placed there⁶⁸

1986    

• January. Future of the abattoir is in doubt for the 1986 season⁷⁰.
  • If it will reopen and whom the manager will be is unknown⁷⁰
  • Con Stamos would not be considering the matter for some time⁷⁰
• Alice Springs abattoir Pty Ltd⁴³
  • Managing Director / Owner  Mr George Whitaker⁴³
• Application of renewal for export licence would have to address the waste issue into the creek at the abattoir that had been originally denied by the operators⁷¹.
• February. Meatworks advertises for a new manager to start in March⁷¹
  • other job positions advertised were, cattle buyer, supervisors, mechanical engineer, boners and slicers⁷¹
  • Adverts appeared in interstate papers⁷¹
• Territory government has taken further action to recover unpaid electricity bills from 1984, $50,000 to $100,000⁷¹
• March. Devastating drought has been in the area for some time with hugh stock losses and soil erosion⁷²
• April. US import controls may be triggered when imports into the US from Australia reach 25,000 tonnes of a level⁷³.
  • could mean restrictions are activated in Mid 1986⁷³
  • At a time when large numbers of drought cattle are being trucked from properties and slaughtered⁷³
  • Prime Minister Mr Bob Hawke was meeting with President Ronald Reagan to negotiate that Australia be allowed to maintain it’s shipments to the US⁷³
    • Australia was critically dependent on the US market⁷³
    • Territory was currently in severe drought with a significant cost price squeeze⁷³.
      • some local properties had been drought declared in June 1985⁷⁵.
• Alice Springs abattoir begins slaughter⁷⁴.
  • Held a 5 day test period⁷⁴.
  • 70 meatworkers, with most already trained and others in training⁷⁴.
  • Abattoir wished to attract cattle and regain the confidence of producers⁷⁴.
    • Many stock were being sent to Adelaide or Perth⁷⁴.
• June. Alice Springs abattoir had obtained an export licence with permission to export to America⁷⁵.
  • It is unable to secure significant numbers of local livestock⁷⁵
  • some stock have come from the Barkly region⁷⁵
  • Stock agents claim the problem is the drought⁷⁵
• NFF, NTCA, private businesses, form a fighting fun to fight the AMIEU⁷⁷
  • also have the support of NT Government and Westpac bank⁷⁷
  • Territory cattlemen are in a relatively bad position at the moment⁷⁷.
    • Drought
    • Introduction of Capital Gains taxes
    • What they see as ‘suffocating union demands’
    • Australian dollar has plummeted

1987

• April. Unlikely the abattoir will open this⁷⁸
  • Meant to start on April 16.
  • Maintenance staff of 20 and general manager were laid off last week
• $1M installation improvements had been installed with upgrades to the chain⁷⁸ .
• Believed the facility is in financial difficulty⁷⁸
  • AMIEU blame management and management blame AMIEU
  • AMIEU claim management refused to negotiate with the AMIEU when employees elected the AMIEU to represent them on 4 occasions
  • Alice Springs was capable of processing 400 – 500 head a day⁷⁹
• Tennant Creek abattoir is currently being dismantled⁷⁸
  • plant and equipment to be sold 28/04/1987
  • works operating at a loss for some time
  • experienced labour had been difficult to source
  • Industrial action meant the abattoir only operated for 13 weeks of last season⁷⁸
    • AMIEU claim cattle were unable to sourced and it wasn’t union strife that caused the losses, as industrial dispute only lasted 2 days.
    • Tennant had a policy of working only 5 days which limited overtime
    • Had employed 100 – 180 people
    • Tennant was capable of processing 400 head a day

1988         

• March. Abattoir is placed up for sale. expectation of $4M⁷⁹
  • Tenders for the sale will close April 20⁷⁹
• Point Stuart Abattoir is also for sale for $2M⁷⁹
  • Capable of processing 200 – 300 head per day⁷⁹
  • Wales Meat – George Whitaker owns both facilities⁷⁹
  • Abattoirs will be sold together or separately on a walk in walk out basis⁷⁹
• June. Computer Décor Pty Ltd trading as Alice Springs Meatworks enter occupation of the Alice Springs abattoir lot⁴³
  • Director Mr Milson Hayward⁴³
    • Business to be conduc/ted by brothers, Milson and Elton Hayward
    • Wilson Hayward had /reviously worked at the abattoir
    • Court action is taken 08/08/1997 to recover unpaid electricity costs for the period June to October 1988⁴³.
• At this time the abattoir was processing cattle and stock were arriving using the stockyards to which electricity was connected⁴³.
• Electricity costs⁴³
  • 08/06/1988 – 07/07/1988 $2,289.40
  • 07/07/1988 – 22/08/1988 $46,061.84
  • 22/08/1988 – 20/09/1988 $35,945.88
  • 20/09/1988 – 20/10/1988 $18,380.20
• October 4. Fire destroyed the facility⁸⁷.
  • Abattoir was in operation with freezers and chillers stocked with meat⁸⁷
  • 100 workers lost jobs.⁸⁷
  • fires destroyed chillers, boning room and loading bays⁷
  • Unknown if the buildings would be repaired or re-opened⁸⁷
• Suspicion was insurance claim – truck caught fire in building⁸

Centralian Advocate news headline 05/10/1988. Fire has destroyed the abattoir

• Northern Territory Government has been urged to assist the meatworks by unions and politicians⁸⁰
• “Nice to have another local outlet for beef, but the Centralian cattle industry would probably not be adversely affected if the abattoir never opened again” DPI southern regional manager Mr Dave Tabrett⁸⁰.
• Management claim that they will need some form of assistance to re-open⁸⁰
  • Estimate loss of 120 jobs⁸⁰
  • AMIEU said the government should help to get the works up and running again⁸⁰
    • AMIEU suggesting the government assist by funding a refrigerated site where boning and packaging could continue⁸⁰

Centralian Advocate comic appearing 07/10/1988

Open letter appearing in Centralian Advocate 28/10/1988 written by the NT Organiser AMIEU Trevor Surplice

• Victorian investor expresses an interest in building an abattoir at Brewer Estate, south of Alice Springs⁸¹.
  • No response had been received from the Territory government⁸¹
    • Had planned to spend several million dollars and process greater numbers than the old abattoir⁸¹
• Victorian investor had been negotiating buying the Alice Springs (now burnt down) facility for $3M prior to the fire⁸¹
• November 29. Receiver and Manager is appointed by Westpac Bank a secured creditor of the Mr Whitaker⁴³.
• Alice Springs and Point Stuart abattoirs are both placed in receivership⁸³
  • Another 3 companies of Mr Whitakers are also in receivership⁸³
  • Point Stuart abattoir closed 3 weeks ago⁸³
• Government will not act on any proposals for the Alice springs abattoir to rebuild or support until the insurance assessment is completed⁸²
  • At this point in time no settlement has been reached⁸²
• December. Alice Springs meatworks operator Milson Hayward expresses an interest to buy the works⁸³
• Victorian group are also interested with the Point stuart facility included⁸³.
• Police report on the fire was completed⁸³.
  • No evidence of arson⁸³
  • faulty battery charger in the abattoir storeroom had started the blaze⁸³.
• Personal Communication. Abattoirs are required to use electric forklifts in store-rooms etc to lesson exhaust fumes and contaminents. A battery charger used on a forklift was faulty and where the forklift was stored overnight was near or in the same store room used to house the cardboard boxes flat packed for use after the meat is processed⁸⁴.
• Tennant Creek Kimberg abattoir hopes to open as a horse and beef export works next year with a trial kill occurring⁸⁵.
  • Formerly only killed horses and has not been in operating since 1987⁸⁵..
  • Would process 50-60 head per day⁸⁵.

1989 

• Insurance hadn’t been paid, wouldn’t until coroners report⁹
• Operators – Milson and Elton Haywood, waiting to hear from government concerning relocating⁹
• Barkly producers had been sending cattle east, more convenient than Alice⁹
• Government had indicated before the fire that the abattoir would have to be relocated away from residential developement⁹

Advert for sale of Alice Springs Abattoir appearing in Centralian Advocate 08/11/1989

1990

• Slaughter of cows in NT abattoirs increased in 1990 and 1991 due to the completion of BTEC destocking¹¹

1991

• December. Alice springs abattoir offer to settle outstanding electricity bills 60%⁴³.
  • Nothing was paid⁴³
• Reduction in number of NT operating abattoirs from 10 in 1987 / 1988 to 5 in 1991 due to completion of commercial BTEC destocking and the growth of the live cattle export industry¹¹

1997

• Court action is taken place in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory to recover electricity costs that were unpaid in June – October 1988⁴³.
  • Power and Water Authority v’s Alice Springs Abattoirs Pty Ltd #381 of 1991⁴³.

2017

• June. Authors Note. The current owners of the Alice Springs abattoir kindly let me stickybeak around the old building. It has the majority of its equipment removed and still shows evidence of the fire that gutted it. As it is a serious state of decay I was not able to access the higher levels to take photos.

All stock yards have been removed. Stock would have entered the yards either through the offload ramp which is behind the camera or another large offload ramp further back. Larger holding pens then fed to smaller holding cement floored pens that then flowed to these pre slaughter wash yard pens. I don’t know the use of the crushes. It is possible that BTEC positive cattle may have been slaughtered in the lower kill box at ground level pictured to the left and clean cattle went up the cement ramps that are on the right. Horses may have also been killed in the lower kill box.

The lower level kill box.

Ramps leading to the upper level of the abattoir. I assume both ramps were used with a person walkway on the far left.

Alice Springs abattoir. Looking at the main truck access/load area is to the right. Stock would enter the facility on the ramp that is in the air behind the tree. slaughter area was in the top floor with initial carcase break up at that level and the boning room and further packing in both and upper levels.

A boning or packing room. There is a very large cement raised area to the right of this area of the building that original had shed structures either housing coolroom storage or general storage goods.

Inside the packing or boning area room. A large floor opening from the upper levels is located at the top right and may have housed some form of conveyor equipment.

Faded sign outside the building reads “Gut down area only. Do not use for entry to the boning room”

Looking at the now cleared cement floored space. Boning room is located to the left with the abattoir slaughter upper floors to the top rear. Engines, generators and various by products processing were located in the rear and right hand buildings.

Possible tallow, boiling vat areas.

Generators, electrical and refrigeration equipment may have been housed in this area.

Large shed structures at the rear of the abattoir now used for other purposes.

Administration building is located to the right front, with government inspectors offices to the middle and amenities, cafeteria and staff rooms are located to the left. The photo is taken from what would have been the pre- slaughter pens.

Note. Not sure how dated this sign is. It was located under a very protected eve a the gate entry. If it is relevant to the abattoir period it would indicate the stressed relationship between the operator and workers at the time.

Sources

1. Personnel Communication deleted.
2. ‘$370,000 abattoir’ Centralian Advocate 23.03.68
3. ‘No decision Yet on management of abattoirs’ Centralian Advocate 27.06.68
4. ‘New abattoir building is well up to schedule’ Centralian Advocate 31.10.68
5. Personal Communication – Ben Hayes. 16.03.13.
6. ‘Abattoir reprieve offered’ Centralian Advocate 06.01.1984
7. ‘Inferno’ Centralian Advocate 04.12.88
8. Personal Communication. Rob 16.03.13
9. ‘Abattoirs future is undecided’ Centralian Advocate 22.03.1989
10. ‘World on a plate – A history of meat processing in Australia’ Stephen Martyn. 2013
11. ‘Territory Stockies and Government Vets – The Northern Territory Animal Health System from 1965 to 2012’ NT government.
12. ‘Deplorable conditions at abattoir’ Centralian Advocate. 30.03.1962.
13. ‘Vesteys to open £300,000 abattoir in Darwin shortley’ Centralian Advocate 25.01.1963
14. ‘High Costs and bad roads mar Katherine abattoir’ Centralian Advocate 16.07.1964
15. ‘Alice Springs district still most drought affected area in NT’ Centralian Advocate 16.07.1964
16. ‘Enough cattle for abattoirs – Says Director’ Centralian Advocate 03.09.1964
17. ‘Abattoir for sale’ Centralian Advocate 06.02.1969
18. ‘New abattoir open in a fortnight’ Centralian Advocate 27.11.1969
19. ‘Abattoir Sold – $452,300″ Centralian Advocate 09.03.1970
20. ‘Government may save abattoir’ Centralian Advocate 25.05.1972
21. ‘Minister inspects abattoir and sees difficulties’ Centralian Advocate 19.10.1972
22. Question Paper Q1977 16 June.
23. ‘Re-opening hinges on talks with Minister’ Centralian Advocate 12.01.1978
24. ‘The Frozen food breakthrough’ Centralian Advocate 09.03.1978
25. ‘Fumes from abattoir cause illness’ Centralian Advocate 21.09.1978
26. ‘Beef looks Better’ Centralian Advocate 04.01.1979
27. ‘Work begins on Tennant’s $2M abattoir’ Centralian Advocate 12.04.1979
28. ‘Quarantine tightens squeeze on producers’ Centralian Advocate 05.01.1978
29. ‘Govt gutless over abattoir’ Centralian Advocate 31.05.1979
30. ‘Is mobile abattoir the answer’ The Star 06.02.1980
31. Abattoir workers advert. The Star 13.02.1980
32. ‘Stations need rain’ The Star 20.02.1980
33. ‘Reader air views on abattoir smells’ Centralian Advocate 12.06.1980
34. ‘Abattoir record kill’ Midweek Territorian 08.10.1980
35. ‘Gratuity for meat inspectors’ Canberra Times 22.06.1982
36. ‘Secret Money for NT Meat inspectors’ Centralian Advocate 23.06.1982
37. ‘Meat Market’ Centralian Advocate 08.10.1982
38. ‘Jobs on Line’ Centralian Advocate 29.04.1983
39. ‘Meat men start work’ Centralian advocate 18.05.1983
40. ‘Bribe charges’ Centralian Advocate 22.08.1983
41. ‘Meat Industry outlook bleak’ Centralian Advocate 28.10.1983
42. ‘Build new meat works’ Centralian Advocate’ 02.11.1983
43. Power and Water Authority v’s Alice Springs Abattoir Pty Ltd #381 of 1991. 08.08.1997
44. ‘Abattoir opening delay’ Centralian Advocate 06.04.1984
45. ‘Abattoir all set to open’ Centralian Advocate 11.05.1984
46. ‘Economics of Agricultural development in Northern Australia’ B Davidson 1974.
47. ’70 Workers form picket’ Centralian Advocate 13.07.1984
48. ‘Welcome news on meatworks’ Centralian Advocate 11.05.1984
49. ‘Meat Row: It’s up to abattoir, now’ Centralian Advocate 13.08.1984
50. ‘Abattoir unlikely to open’ Centralian Advocate 31.08.1984
51. ‘Abattoir too late to open’ Centralian Advocate 21.09.1984
52. ‘Meatworkers’ wages on par with rest’ Midweek Territorian 06.02.1985
53. ‘What is the future of Territory beef industry’ Midweek Territorian 10.04.1985
54. ‘Trade flows affect our beef markets’ Midweek Territorian 17.04.1985
55. ‘Sales heavy in Alice Springs’ Midweek Territorian 08.05.1985
56. ‘Funding freeze threatens BTEC’ Midweek Territorian 22.05.1985
57. ‘Tail tagging successful’ Midweek Territorian 22.05.1985
58. ‘Picket for Meatworks’ Midweek Territorian 22.05.1985
59. ‘Power struggle threat to NT beef industry’ Midweek Territorian 29.05.1985
60. ‘Swedish danger to Aussie exports’ Midweek Territorian 29.05.1985
61. ‘Industry still in chaos after strikes’ Midweek Territorian 29.05.1985
62. ‘Picket line Alice Abattoir’ Midweek Territorian 29.05.1985
63. ‘Who owns abattoir’ Midweek Territorian 12.06.1985
64. ‘Stalemate nears end’ Midweek Territorian 20.06.1985
65. ‘Abattoir opens in anger’ Centralian Advocate 04.09.1985
66. ‘Abattoir row part of a 4 year battle over rights’ Centralian 20.09.1985
67. ‘It’s just the pits’ Centralian Advocate 18.12.1985
68. ‘Meat man gets waste order’ Centralian Advocate 24.12.1985
69. ‘Progress and some protests’ Centralian Advocate 03.01.1986
70. ‘Meatworks under cloud’ Centralian Advocate 31.01.1986
71. ‘Meatworks seeks staff’ Centralian Advocate 28.02.1986
72. ‘Drought relief at last’ Midweek Territorian 26.03.1986
73. ‘Hawke’s cattle talks crucial’ Centralian Advocate 25.04.1986
74. ‘Abattoir killing at last’ Centralian Advocate 25.04.1986
75. ‘Mystery of the missing cattle’ Centralian Advocate 20.06.1986
76. ‘Joint bid to fight unions’ Centralian Advocate 30.07.1986
77. ‘Cattlemen and unions at war’ Centralian Advocate 30.07.1986
78. ‘Abattoir’s future grim’ Centralian Advocate 08.04.1987
79. ‘Abattoirs tipped to fetch $4M’ Centralian Advocate 30.03.1988
80. ‘Govt urged: Help abattoir’ Centralian Advocate 07.10.1988
81. ‘Abattoir plan for centre may be lost’ Centralian Advocate 28.10.1988
82. ‘Claims on abattoir wrong’ Centralian Advocate 30.11.1988
83. ‘Meatworks in receivership’ Centralian Advocate 09.12.1988
84. Personal Communication. June 2016
85. ‘Export earner for Tennant abattoir’ Centalian Advocate 21.112.1988
86. ‘Drought relief money’ Centralian Advocate 20.06.1986
87. ‘Cold Store Problem’ Centralian Advocate 03.10.1963
88. Letter to Editor of Centralian Advocate 14/01/1965
89. ‘Little for NT Cattlemen in report on beef industry’ Centralian Advocate 16/10/1975
90. ‘Pastoralists seek licence to open a second abattoir’ Centralian Advocate 16/10/1975
91. ‘Killing at new abattoir’ Centralian Advocate 13/11/1975
92. ‘Turnoff of cattle’ Centralian Advocate 31/12/1975
93. ‘The Year that was – July’ Centralian Advocate 31/12/1975
94. ‘The Year that was – October’ Centralian Advocate 31/12/1975
95. ‘New abattoir owners will supply locally’ Centralian Advocate 24/03/1977
96. ‘Abattoir decision rests solely with management’ Centralian Advocate 07/08/1985
97. ‘Office – Hatton’ Centralian Advocate 07/08/1985
98. ‘AMIEU cause of meat industry chaos’ Centralian Advocate 07/08/1985
99. ’75 wet but no record’ Centralian Advocate 08.01.1976