Stamford Park Dairy
In 1936 Aloysius Drummond built a model dairy beside Stud Road to the north of where the Green House Nursery is now sited.
The dairy was of the latest design as described in the following article in the journal published by the Gippsland and Northern Company.
From "The G & N Journal", January 1939
Many casual motorists and hikers who pass through Scoresby during the weekends make a practice of calling into the "Stamford Park" Dairy Farm and quenching their thirst with a glass of cool fresh milk. Many stay to add to their knowledge by having a look over the dairy buildings for there is much to be learned in this modern dairy about the production of clean milk.
The dairy buildings at "Stamford Park" are of modern brick design and are situated quite close to the roadway. When deciding upon the location of his dairy buildings, Mr A. Drummond, the owner of this up-to-date farm, specially selected a site open to the east, so that the milking shed and concrete cow yards would get the full benefit of the morning sun. Every precaution is taken to insure that the floor of the milking shed and cow yards are kept clean and free from odours.
The herd which consists of about 90 cows - mainly Jerseys - is examined regularly by qualified veterinary surgeons, and at a recent examination the herd was passed as being 100% free from tuberculosis.
Milking is done by an "Eclipse" milking machine, which is thoroughly sterilised twice daily. All the piping and parts with which the milk comes into contact are made of "Staybrite" stainless steel. The dairy is also equipped with a "Lister" separator with bowl and discs made from the same hygienic metal.
Immediately the milk is produced it is taken by gravitation through the water and brine cooling processes and then stored in the cool room under refrigeration while awaiting transport to Mr Drummond's "Waverley" dairy at East Malvern. The milk is taken from the farm to East Malvern twice daily, so residents of that suburb are assured of milk supplies which are clean and of the highest possible quality from the moment of production until delivery to the consumer.
As is usual with progressive men, Mr Drummond is not content to allow improvements to end with the dairy buildings and plant. A splendid innovation being a recently constructed concrete drinking trough, which is automatically filled from a reservoir which in turn is supplied with water pumped from the creek which runs through the property. Another feature is the ample shade provided by the numerous clumps of trees to be seen in all paddocks. Mr Drummond recently decided to supplement the shade facilities by planting about 1,000 pine trees to establish a cattle break.
The property which consists of about some 380 acres of undulating country has been greatly improved in carry capacity by pasture improvement and top dressing. The pastures which were established mainly from G. & N. seed consists of a mixture of Rye grass, cow grass and White Dutch clover. Regular top dressing is practised and good results have been obtained with applications of about 1cwt to 1 1/2cwt of super per acre. About 60 acres are used for fodder crops, mainly millet, maize and mulga oats with algerian oats for hay.
Fodder conservation is playing an increasingly important part in Mr Drummond's farming and he gave it as his opinion that every dairyman should practise fodder conservation as insurance against drought. Mr Drummond backed up his statements by pointing to the fodder reserves on his farm which were helping him to maintain production and to fight the present dry conditions.
Republished in the July 1993 edition of the Rowville-Lysterfield Community News.