In the 1940s local dairy farmers from Walpole, Hazelvale, Nornalup and Tingledale were unhappy with the Great Southern Butter Factory in Denmark, so they decided to band together to send their produce from Walpole to Manjimup. This pivotal decision inextricably linked Walpole to the greater Manjimup district.
The Walpole Cream Truck's first run was in 1946. It was a 3 hour journey with trees, wildlife and potholes to be negotiated. It not only delivered the Walpole district's cream to the Manjimup Sunny West Butter Factory, it was also a mail run, taxi service (if you could find a seat!) and would bring back meat, bread, stores, shoes and clothing.
I had many trips to Manjimup in the old truck, Buster loved to chat so I would finish up with a sore throat shouting above the noise of the corrugations, the motor and rattling of the cream cans, but they were most enjoyable days." (Passenger)
