ROOM 1.6 Reception and Early Settlers

This room was constructed as part of the original butter factory in 1918 when it was described as the Butter Making Room. The west wall was originally a double thickness stud wall with an insulated core for the cool room. On the 1917 plans the floor was shown as being at one level across the whole room, indicating that the floor has been built up at some later date.

The south wall features four high level timber framed slots. Although known as drive belt slots they were not part of the 1918 fabric and could have been installed in 1927 as part of the Cream Ripening Room extension.

The panel and batten ceiling retains evidence of several former hatches, hoists, vents and fixing points. These include a large framed recess to the ceiling which may locate a former hatch to the first floor. To the eastern section there is a truncated ceiling vent, the cap of which is visible in photograph that appeared in the Western Mail, 16 May 1919.

Although described as the Butter Making Room on the original Plan, sometime between 1927-1935 it became the Churn Room and after 1952 it was used for Powdered Milk production. The Busselton Historical Society now call it Reception and Early Settlers and use it to house a collection that showcases the early Busselton settlers.