Community & Business
1 November, 2023
Celebrating the Pittsworth Big Cheese centenary
Many gathered at the Pittsworth Pioneer Village to join in the celebrations of the centenary of the Pittsworth Big Cheese.
All the way back in 1923, Percy Farrington and the cheesemakers at the Pittsworth Dairy Company made a cheese wheel that weighed in at one and a half tons, had a height of 76cm and a diameter of 168cm.
The cheese wheel was taken to London for the 1924 Empire Exhibition, where it was given the title of World’s Biggest Cheese.
The Pittsworth Dairy Company opened in 1896 and operated until 1980.
It had premises on Yandilla Street where the Big Cheese was made.
Cr Carol Taylor from Toowoomba Regional Council spoke. She was joined at the event by Cr Kerry Shine and Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan.
“This event would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the History Pittsworth volunteers, particularly Barbara Walker,” Cr Taylor said.
“Barbara has been the brains behind organising this centenary event to commemorate the tremendous achievement that put Pittsworth on the world stage.
“Barbara also worked closely with the descendants of the world renowned cheesemakers and fellow History Pittsworth members to compile a souvenir book on the topic.”
