Watson and Paterson's Bacon Factory
Cnr Dundas Street and Plenty Road, Preston
The factory was built in 1862 on the corner of Dundas Street and Plenty Road, Preston by 2 Scotsmen - William Watson and William Paterson. They created the Pioneer Brand. After Watson moved to Queensland in 1890, Paterson continued the business, and was Preston Shire President from 1899-1900. His family continued to work at the factory after German-born Otto Wurth bought the factory in 1958. It was run by KR Castlemaine until August 2006 when they closed the factory and operations moved to Castlemaine. A plaque near the original site commemorates the contribution to the industry to Preston, which describes it as "pork town".
Sources
Preston Leader (2006, August 22)
Images
Bacon factory on the corner of Dundas Street and Plenty Road [LHRN4970]
The bacon factory is on the right of the image and the Junction Hotel in the centre. [LHRN90-271]
Curing bacon in the factory. [LHRN1959]
The bacon factory in the early days. [LHRN1194]
