Pre-Cannery

1889        
Kyabram Horticultural Society formed

1893        
Kyabram and District Vine Growers’ and Special Products Association formed.
This group eventually lapsed, until being revived around 1920 by Mr F J Churches,
its first President, and several other enthusiasts.

1895        
Kyabram Free Press published a series of articles on orchards in the district

1896    
Meeting held in Tatura to consider establishing a jam and canning factory in the district.
After 6 months investigation by a committee, growers favoured the erection of a cannery in Kyabram.

1897      
A cannery commenced operations on the Blacker Douglas property at Toolamba,
‘probably the first cannery to function in the Western Goulburn Valley.’(Kyela)

1898      
The Melbourne firm of Swallow and Ariell opened a small factory near the Mooroopna
Railway Station, where most fruit was pulped or dried.

1900      
Swallow and Ariell opened a factory and cannery at Kyabram.
The factory operated for several seasons, until freight costs made the operations unprofitable.

1915      
The original Swallow and Ariell factory was reopened by the Messrs Tuckfield,
but freight costs eventually defeated them and the machinery was removed.

1920  
Melbourne fruit-broker Mr Jones-Allen proposed a scheme to build a cannery in
Kyabram using British capital,   to the value of £50,000. This did not eventuate, and delayed plans for a local cannery.

1921      
Early in the year the Kyabram Branch of the Returned Soldiers Association called a
meeting to assist local growers - including soldier settlers - looking to the government for help.
The Federal Treasurer was supportive, and the Australian Jam Company offered to can local fruit.
By March this was happening, and the fruit pool was in operation.

The Swallow and Ariell factory lived once again, when it was taken over by the Kyabram and District Dried Fruits Association.
​It was a modest operation, with less than ten workers.

Around this time the ‘Aylesbury Packing Shed’ was operating on the property of Mr W B Seamons, treating fruit for growers.

Mr Harry Clayton canned his Pindiana Brand fruit in his private cannery, on McCormick’s Corner, near Kyabram.

In September a Kyabram meeting, on the Motion of F J Churches and W F Cooper, a company Goulburn Valley Fruits Cooperative was formed. Board members: Pitts Merrigum), Pascoe (Lancaster), Simson (Ardmona), Foster (Ardmona-Merrigum), Roache (Shepparton), Sinclair (Bamawm), Lenne (Tongala).

​To be continued