Cadbury's Chocolate Factory, Tasmania facts for kids
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| Proprietary Limited Company | |
| Industry | Chocolate production |
| Founded | 21 October 1921 |
| Founder | Cadbury-Fry-Pascall Ltd. |
| Headquarters | 100 Cadbury Road Claremont, Tasmania Australia |
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Area served
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Oceania Southeast Asia India Japan Pakistan |
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Key people
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Jamie Salter (Manufacturing Manager) |
| Products | Chocolate |
| Owner | Cadbury |
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Number of employees
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450 (2018) |
| Parent | Mondelez International |
The Cadbury's Chocolate Factory in Claremont, Tasmania, is the biggest chocolate factory in the Southern Hemisphere. In 2021, it made over 60,000 tonnes of chocolate! This factory, also known as Cadbury's Claremont, was built in 1921. It was the first time Cadbury expanded its business outside the United Kingdom. Today, the factory is owned by a large global company called Mondelez International, which bought Cadbury in 2010.
Contents
The History of Cadbury's Claremont
After Cadbury joined with another chocolate company called Fry's in 1919, they decided to open factories in other countries. Australia was a big market for their chocolate, so it was chosen as the first place for a new factory outside the UK.
In 1920, Cadbury executives visited Tasmania. They picked a special 246-acre spot in Claremont. This area was perfect because it had cheap hydro electricity, a cool climate, and lots of fresh milk.
The Cadbury family were Quakers, a religious group who believed in peaceful and simple living. They thought the Claremont site was beautiful and calm, which fit their values for their workers. The factory's location by the water inspired the saying "By mountain and sea." This phrase was used in ads to show the company cared about a healthy lifestyle.
Building the Chocolate Factory
Construction of the factory began in 1920. It was built using white concrete. The factory was designed with six main buildings, most of which had three floors. These buildings included areas for storage and power.
Forty workers from Cadbury's factories in England moved to Tasmania. They helped build the new factory and trained the new staff.
The Cadbury's Chocolate Factory in Claremont officially opened on 21 October 1921. In 1922, Dorothy Cadbury, a managing director, visited the factory. She checked on working conditions for both employees and the company. Her parents and sister came with her.
The first chocolate shipment from Cadbury's Claremont left on 8 April 1922, heading for Sydney. It contained Pascall sweets. Another three-story building was added in 1939.
The Cadbury's Estate: A Special Community
The Cadbury's Estate was like a "model village," similar to Cadbury's original community in England called Bournville. It was built based on Quaker ideas. The estate provided homes for workers, shops, sports fields, a school, a meeting house, and parks with purple benches.
To help workers learn and have fun, many groups and activities were started. These included a youth club, a girls' club, a cricket club, a flower-growing society, and a camera club called "Candied Camera."
The estate is located north of Glenorchy. It has amazing views of kunanyi / Mount Wellington and the River Derwent. The 246-acre site included the model village, the factory, and areas for recreation.
Some roads and buildings on the estate are named after important parts of Cadbury's history. Bournville Road is named after the original worker's estate in England. MacRobertson's Road honors an Australian company that created popular treats like Cherry Ripe and Freddo Frog. Cadbury bought MacRobertson's in 1967. Today, the Cadbury's Estate has 18 heritage-listed buildings, including the old Claremont Primary School.
Claremont School
The first school in Claremont opened in 1890. In 1922, land was bought for a new school building, which opened on the Cadbury's Estate in 1924. This school was built for the children of the factory workers. More buildings were added in 1936 and 1941. In 1949, students from the school even planted 18 trees along Cadbury Road, which leads to the factory.
The Claremont Primary School closed in 2013. In 2017, the school was damaged by a fire. In 2021, a big plan was suggested to build apartments, townhouses, shops, and a community center on the site. The old school building will be kept and used for community activities.
Cadbury's Train Station
The Cadbury's Estate used to have its own train station! It was connected to a main train line. The station opened in 1921 and was used until 1974. Now, the old train tracks have been turned into a bike path.
Factory Tours: A Sweet Attraction
Because of its long history and the love for chocolate, Cadbury's Claremont was a very popular tourist spot in Tasmania. About 150,000 people visited each year!
Original Factory Tours
From 1948, the factory offered public tours. Visitors could see how chocolate was made, from processing cocoa beans to the wrapping process. The tour also showed off the factory's old granite machines from the 1950s. At the end, everyone got to taste free samples!
These tours stopped in 2008 due to new health and safety rules. A new visitor center was built in 2010 instead.
Visitor Centre Closure
The visitor center closed permanently on 18 December 2015.
How Cadbury Makes Chocolate
Cadbury's Chocolate Factory mainly makes chocolate blocks like Dairy Milk, Caramilk, Breakaway, Dream, and Marvellous Creations.
In 2022, 56 dairy farms in Tasmania provided 130 million litres of milk for chocolate production. This milk is processed and then sent to the factory in large trucks. Sugar comes from Mackay, Queensland, and cocoa is imported from Ghana.
Other Cadbury products, like chocolate bars and seasonal treats, are made at different factories in Victoria, Australia.
Being Sustainable
In 2009, Cadbury Australia promised that its Dairy Milk chocolate blocks would be certified as Fairtrade International by Easter 2010. This means farmers get a fair price for their cocoa.
When Mondelez International bought Cadbury in 2010, they started their own program called Cocoa Life in 2012. In 2016, Cadbury Dairy Milk switched from Fairtrade certification to the Cocoa Life program. This program helps cocoa farmers and their communities. By 2021, all Cadbury's Australian-made products used 100% sustainable cocoa through Cocoa Life.
In September 2022, Cadbury Australia announced that future Dairy Milk chocolates would be wrapped in 30% recycled soft plastic. This helps reduce waste.
Working at Cadbury's
Cadbury's Claremont has always been a big employer in Glenorchy. In 1960, it had 1,100 workers! However, as new technology and machines were introduced, fewer people were needed. In 2015, 80 jobs were cut after a big upgrade. In 2018, the factory had 450 employees.
Sponsorships and Events
Cadbury's Claremont started the first Cadbury Marathon in 1983. This long-distance running event, over 42 km, begins and ends at the factory. It celebrated its 40th year in 2023. Cadbury also sponsors the T20 cricket team, the Hobart Hurricanes.
How to Get There
You can reach Cadbury Road from Main Road, Box Hill Road, and Bolton Street in Claremont. The Metro Tasmania bus number 512 goes to Claremont and the Cadbury's Estate from the Hobart city center.
See also
- Cadbury World
- Cadbury Ireland
- Cadbury chocolate factory, Toronto
