Kamil Perry
Watsonia cheese was formerly a West Australian brand, but at the end of 2010, production moved to Victoria. The Watsonia Cheese Factory in Mount Barker was once a popular tourist destination, but those plans have since been scrapped. Watsonia North, Victoria, is now home to a variety of cheese shops specialising in French and European cheeses, as well as unique cream cheese flavours like apricot and rum.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Watsonia Cheese Factory in Mount Barker, Victoria, Australia |
| Former location | Western Australia |
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What You'll Learn
Watsonia Cheese Factory in Mount Barker
The Watsonia Cheese Factory is located in Mount Barker, Australia. It was formerly a West Australian brand, but moved production to Victoria at the end of 2010.
The factory has a rich history, dating back to World War II when it was a protected industry under the Manpower Directorate. During the war years, Watsonia struggled to find workers as many had enlisted in the armed forces. Despite this, the factory continued to produce cheese and even began making canned sausages for American soldiers in the Pacific with the help of the American armed forces.
In recent years, the factory has been at the centre of real estate negotiations. In 2017, plans to transform the site into a tourism hub, complete with an art gallery, farmer's and craft market, petting zoo, and cafe, were scrapped. The property, located at Lot 462 Mitchell Street, is reportedly being looked at for purchase, but no details have been released about potential buyers or the intended use of the property.
The Watsonia Cheese Factory is now owned by four separate entities, which are joined as the Plantagenet Rural Project. The site has been rezoned for multi-use but still retains its industrial zoning.
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Watsonia is a former West Australian brand
Watsonia was one of many cheese brands that were not from Western Australia, including Bulla, Bega, Kraft, Fonterra, and Murray-Goulburn Coop. Many home or store-brand cheeses are also reportedly imported from overseas.
The move of Watsonia's production to Victoria caused some confusion for consumers, as some companies were found to be misleading customers about the origin of their products. For example, in 2009, the ACCC initiated a Federal Court ruling against Harvey Fresh for making their block cheese look local when it was actually made in Victoria.
Today, there are still cheese shops near Watsonia North, Victoria, that specialise in French and European cheeses, as well as shops that offer a range of local cheeses.
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Watsonia moved production to Victoria in 2010
Watsonia cheese was formerly a West Australian brand, but production moved to Victoria at the end of 2010. The Watsonia Cheese Factory in Mount Barker, Western Australia, was once a tourist attraction, but these plans were scrapped in 2017. There are now cheese shops near Watsonia North, Victoria, which stock a wide range of cheeses, including French cheese and interesting flavours of cream cheese.
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Watsonia cheese shops in Melbourne
Watsonia cheese is made in Victoria, Australia. The Watsonia Cheese Factory is located in Mount Barker, and there are also shops in Watsonia North, Victoria, which is a suburb of Melbourne.
One Yelp review describes a cheese shop in Watsonia North, Victoria, as having a "generous array of herbs, spices, cheeses, meats like salami and sausages, nuts, pasta and..." The reviewer goes on to say that it is their "favourite cheese shop" and that it "specialises in French cheese, though they do stock other European [cheeses]". The shop also has a "wonderful cream cheese selection in interesting flavours like apricot and rum".
Another Yelp review mentions a cheese shop located in the "industrial area of Thomastown". The reviewer tasted some cheese at a "salami festa" and described it as "the most delicious skewer of Buffalo boconcini".
Watsonia cheese was formerly a West Australian brand, but production moved to Victoria at the end of 2010.
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Watsonia cheese shops in North VIC
Watsonia cheese was formerly a West Australian brand, but production moved to Victoria at the end of 2010.
There are several cheese shops in North VIC, including:
- Donnybrook Farmhouse Cheese Factory
- That's Amore Cheese
- Vermont South Delicatessen
- French Shop
- Mamma Lucia Cheese
- Cornelius Cheese
- Harper & Blohm Cheese Shop
- The Cheese Lab at La Formaggeria
- Wholemilk Continental Cheese
- Maker And Monger
The Cheese Lab at La Formaggeria is a local neighbourhood cheese shop, specialising in French cheese, although they do stock other European varieties. They also have a wonderful cream cheese selection in interesting flavours like apricot and rum.
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Frequently asked questions
Watsonia cheese is made in Victoria, Australia.
Watsonia was previously made in Western Australia.
Watsonia moved production to Victoria at the end of 2010.
You can buy Watsonia cheese in shops in Watsonia North, Victoria, Australia.
