New book records history of Singleton dairy industry

Hunter Valley Operations has joined three other local mines – United Wambo, Bulga Coal and Mount Owen Glendell – to support the printing of a new book on the important role the Singleton butter factory and dairy co-op made to the local dairy industry and the community.

A Place in Time traces the history of the Singleton Co-Operative Dairy Company from 1900 to 1988.

It is the fourth local history book and second on the dairy industry by Singleton resident Ron Stokes with help from his wife Joan. The couple’s other works are:

• A Time to Remember, a history of farming in the Gouldsville area
• The Lamp, a history of Singleton Hospital, its auxiliary and Pink Ladies service
• A Bygone Era, a tribute to the milk and cream carriers who delivered to the dairy company.

For 50 years Ron and his father supplied the factory with milk from their local dairy farm. In its heyday around 350 such farms supplied milk to the co-op. The factory made cheese with Singleton Cheddar proving popular across Australia.

HVO Environment and Community Manager Andrew Speechly joined other mine representatives to be with Ron, his wife Joan and other family members at the book’s launch at Club Singleton on July 28. Andrew thanked the team at Bulga Coal for taking the lead in co-ordinating the joint support from local mines.

He said Ron and Joan’s books help to document Singleton’s history and the stories of local people from those times.

“As well as a record of historical events and organisations, the books are about our community,” Andrew said.

“Thanks to Ron and Joan, those stories remain alive.” 

Documenting important aspects of Singleton’s local history is one of the ways Ron has contributed to the Singleton community over many years. Recognising is tireless contribution to his community, Ron was a finalist in the 2024 Singelton Citizen of the Year Awards.

For more than 55 years, Ron was involved in the Singleton Farmers District Cattle judging, ‘Nioka’ Gouldsville AIS Stud and ‘Recluse’ Long Point Friesian Stud. He was the secretary of the Gouldsville Agricultural Bureau from 1957 to 1961.

He is a long-time member of Singleton Anglican Church and was the editor of its magazine from 1976 to 1985.

For more than 20 years, Ron has been a volunteer with the Singleton Hospital Auxiliary and an official visitor of the hospital.

The proceeds from all his books go to the Singleton Hospital Auxiliary to purchase equipment for the hospital. You can buy the book from Kirkwoods Produce, Singleton Historical Museum, GIO Singleton and Burdekin Park Pharmacy.

The book can be purchased from:

• Singleton Historical Museum in  Elizabeth Street
• Kirkwoods Produce in John Street, Singleton.