Norco celebrates its 130th birthday

Founded in Byron Bay NSW, in 1895, 100% Australian farmer owned dairy co-operative Norco is celebrating its 130 years of operation with a week of celebrations within its local communities. 

The celebrations have included free milk for school students in its heartland community of Lismore on its birthday (5 June) and burying a time capsule on the Gold Coast.

Norco CEO, Michael Hampson said that the team at Norco could not think of a better way to honour its history and that of the industry, while giving back to its heartland community and saying thank you for 130 years of support.

“130 years is a significant achievement, so we wanted to celebrate all our farming families, many of whom are multi-generational, that work rain, hail or shine to deliver the best, freshest tasting dairy for our co-operative.”

The year Norco was founded (1895) also marks a prominent time in Australian cultural history with Banjo Paterson first composing Waltzing Matilda.

On the Gold Coast, Norco partnered with neighbouring school, A.B Paterson College. While its acclaimed choir sung Waltzing Matilda, senior school students from the College buried a time capsule on the grounds of Norco’s milk factory in Labrador, capturing a moment in time to share with future generations.

Michael Hampson said: “In taking a walk down memory lane to honour our co-operative’s history, we were thrilled to uncover the shared history and aligned purpose that further connects us with our neighbours at A.B Paterson College.

“In planning these celebrations, we thought this was perfect way to truly capture the significance of this milestone, while paying tribute to Norco’s original vision and values.”

Norco was formed when a group of 40 farmers gathered in Clunes near Byron Bay to discuss how they could come together to secure a better future for the farmers of the region.

Andrew Wilson, a fourth-generation farmer who has been supplying Norco for almost three decades, reflects on the birthday milestone and comments how genuinely proud he and his family are to be part of the oldest and last operating dairy co-operative in Australia.

“Being a Norco dairy farmer is more than just producing great dairy. It means being part of a 100% farmer-owned co-operative that backs its farmers and supports its local communities.

“It’s a great source of pride for not only me, but my whole family and we truly appreciate anytime someone chooses to buy Norco, because when they do, every cent goes back to support farming families like ours, and for that we are genuinely grateful,” Wilson said.

Today, with 281 active members on 188 dairy farms in northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland, Norco employs approximately 800 people across five production facilities, two corporate offices and 25 rural retail stores that operate as far north as Bundaberg to as far south of the Hunter region in NSW.

Together, Norco’s farmers and 800-strong workforce look forward to continuing to evolve and innovate the co-operative, so that they can continue to create Australia’s best tasting dairy, while supporting regional communities and advocating for the needs of hardworking farmers right across the country.