The Dairy was built at the same time as the front of the Te Puhi farmhouse, in 1868. The Te Puhi farm was originally a 3,000 acre sheep farm, extending way into the foothills of the Rimutaka Ranges, over to the Tauherenikau River and down to the railway line at the back of the farm.
At the turn of the 19th century, there was a herd of 40 jersey cows that supplied milk and cream each morning for the family and the farm workers. The milk was separated in the Dairy and butter was made. The whey went to the chooks and the excess butter was bartered for sugar and flour during the Great Depression in the 1930’s.
We moved the Dairy to its current position in 2005, to make way for the garage complex that houses The Cook’s Loft. We also completely did it up, as the walls were sagging and the floors at the front of the Dairy had rotted away. Now the Dairy houses Lavender’s Green Shop, selling vintage cookware and cook books. It’s an ideal place to fossick in and explore…
