King Valley Dairy revives Moyhu's old butter factory

It's taken 12 months and $1.3 million, but butter-maker Naomi Ingleton is back doing what she knows best in a new home, King Valley Dairy.

Having outgrown the former Myrtleford Butter Factory, in Victoria's north-east, Ingleton has revived the old butter factory in Moyhu, which ceased butter production in the 1950s.

Visitors to Moyhu, three hours' drive from Melbourne, can call into the temporary store to taste and buy cultured and flavoured butters, deli goods from local producers, to watch the butter-making process from the viewing area, or wander the grounds to see the newly installed orchard, vegetable gardens and beehives.

Ingleton's Myrtleford butter picked up a string of awards but she says it's now better than ever. "We've been able to control the whole fermentation process."

Stage two at the 2.6 hectare property will be a purpose-built shop and tasting room, an outdoor kitchen for classes such as butter- and cheesemaking and beekeeping, and new products such as local milk and yoghurt.

The new dairy has created 10 new full-time jobs, with plans to hire more as production grows. Ingleton aims to become Australia's largest premium producer of naturally cultured butter.

King Valley Dairy is open daily from 10am-4pm.

107 Meadow Creek Road, Moyhu, 1300 319 766, kingvalleydairy.com.au.