Bacchus Marsh Dairymen's Co-operative Association factory began in 1910. The Co-op, as it was known locally, also had a store in Main Street. This butcher's shop was opened in 1923 and was located at 160 Main Street. The Co-op purchased milk from local farmers and trucked the milk direct to a factory in Melbourne. Due to financial difficulties, the Co-op ceased trading in the early 1980s. Records show that this site was in continuous use as a butcher's and allied industries from 1856 to 2011. The original building underwent several changes and additions until it was sold in 1922 to the Dairymen's Co-operative, who erected a new brick building in 1923. This building housed the Hospital Opportunity Shop from 2011 until 2016 when it was taken over by Natural Health and is still in use by this business.Black and white photographic print mounted on grey cardboard with decorative borders. Photo shows staff standing in front of the shop with two store signs. Along the top the verandah a sign reads: CHOICEST MEAT SUPPLIED. The lower sign along the top of the shop frontage reads: DAIRYMEN'S CO-OPERA. This sign is incomplete, indicating that the butcher's shop was part of the Dairymen's Co-operative Association store. At the front of the store six members of the staff stand in a line. There are five men, all wearing the traditional blue and white striped butcher's apron and one woman who is probably the cashier. At the top of the cantilever verandah, two rolls of canvas awning are tied up, ready to be let down on a hot day. On the left of the photo a portion of the brick Baptist Church can be seen. The store frontage continues to the right. The reflection of the store on the opposite side of the street can be seen in the window. The store frontage is finished with tiles along the bottom of the display window and an inset of leaded glass along the top of the window. On the footpath there is a scattering of sawdust, once used traditionally in butcher shops to soak up blood from the meat. The end of a 1920's vehicle has been captured as it passes in front of the store. On the back: On a printed label: OPENING OF BACCHUS MARSH DAIRYMAN'S CO-OPERATIVE BUTCHERS SHOP. 1923 L. to R. Norm Farrow, Sheila Muir, Bill Bence, Norm Mathews, Jim Cash and Ern Coe, (Manager). shops bacchus marsh vic., bacchus marsh dairymen's co-operative association, butcher's shops, main street bacchus marsh vic.

Lifeguard Milk was a product name for milk sold by the Bacchus Marsh Dairymen's Co-operative Association and its subsidiary the Federal Milk company. In 1938 the Diaryman's co-operative began trading as the Lieguard Milk Company. This company was a major employer in Bacchus Marsh and was in business until the late 1960s.Timber box used for packing condensed milk products for export.Stow away from engine room and boilers: Lifeguuard Milk Products on long side. Export Lifeguard Sweetened Condensed Milk 48 x 14 OZ tins Made in Australia on narrow side.dairying, milk factories, lifeguard milk company