Heritage

KR Castlemaine's history is etched in rural landscapes, hard work and dedication to quality products and consumers. While manufacturing history was made the day KR Castlemaine became a division of George Weston Foods, it’s important to remember where it all began over 100 years ago.

Our founding belief is that things are best when they are at their absolute simplest.

• 1910: Queenslanders Mr William Charles Krimmer and Mr Harold A Reed discuss the prospect of floating a Co-operative with an authorised capital of 25,000 pounds. They plan to begin when 7,000 shares (at 1 pound each) are sold.
• 1911: March 7th, the Darling Downs Bacon Co-operative Company Limited is formed. The 'KR' brand of hams and bacon is launched onto the local market.
• 1923: Australia experiences one of the worst droughts in history, which causes severe impact on the growers and the company.
• 1924: However as the company starts to recover from the drought, a massive fire extensively damages the original factory. The company's spirit of determination didn't go up in flames. The company not only survived, it flourished. And over the next few years a bigger, better factory was built increasing production dramatically.
• 1930s: The KR Darling Downs brand begins selling products nationally.
• 1932: New KR premises are opened in Roma St, Brisbane.
• 1938: The company continues to prosper and premises are opened at Ultimo, Sydney.