Time capsule from 25 years ago unearthed at Cobram factory

The capsule was originally buried to mark 50 years of operations at the site ― it’s opening now celebrating 75 years.

Workers used heavy equipment to lift the concrete slab before cutting open the airtight capsule with a chainsaw.

Long-serving employees Billie Pye, who has worked at the site for 48 years, and Debbie Hixon, a 40-year employee, were given the honour of revealing its contents.

Inside was a collection of items capturing the factory’s history, including historic photographs, handwritten letters from original suppliers, an old employee handbook, newspapers and awards dating back to the late 1980s.

Among the highlights were first-prize ribbons from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Royal Easter Show for rindless cheddar and semi-matured cheddar cheese, along with copies of the Cobram Courier and The Devondaler from 2001.

The newspaper advertisements, showing food prices from 25 years ago, surprised and amused those in attendance.

However, the biggest surprise was a vacuum-sealed block of cheese, including tasty, vintage and gouda, buried alongside the memorabilia.

While the cheese appeared to have survived the years underground, no-one was willing to taste it.

The capsule also contained veterinary supplies used on dairy farms, including calcium and penicillin, and a cassette recording of the Vic Country Hour from May 30, 2001, celebrating Murray Goulburn’s 50th anniversary.

The anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the people who built the business and its humble beginnings.

The story of the site began in 1951, when a group of pioneering dairy farmers and returned servicemen opened the first factory in Cobram under the Murray Valley Dairy Co-operative.

What began with just 14 suppliers was built on a simple but powerful idea: local dairy farmers working together to create opportunities for their communities and secure a better future for their families.

The early years were challenging: muddy roads regularly bogged trucks and production volumes were so small there was not enough cream to start the butter churn on the factory’s first day.

Despite those early obstacles, the determination of the founding farmers never wavered, and for decades the factory has remained one of Cobram’s major employers, providing stable careers across generations.

Through innovation and investment, Murray Goulburn grew to become Australia's largest dairy co-operative before its operating assets were acquired by Canadian dairy company Saputo in 2018.

Saputo Dairy Australia Cobram site manager Adam Harwood said the factory’s greatest legacy was not its buildings or equipment, but the people behind them.

“This time capsule celebrates both the history and the many people who have contributed over the years,” he said.

“The farmers who have supplied milk, the operators who worked shifts through the day and night, the tradespeople who help to keep the plant running.

“The laboratory teams, office teams, supervisors and leaders who have all played a role, as well as the families who supported them every step of the way.

“For 75 years, the Cobram factory has been a vital part of the local community. We honour those who came before us, we thank those who are here today, and we look forward with confidence to the years ahead.”