Watch The Milking at Caldermeade Farm

Come to Caldermeade Farm and discover the answer to this question!

Where does milk come from if not from the bottle in the fridge?

About 75 minutes from Melbourne on the South Gippsland Highway, the farm was established in 1875 and is a fully commercial dairy operation.

Giant Jersey cow statue at Caldermeade Farm.

The over 500 Jersey cows are milked twice a day – and not by hand!

Time your visit for the daily milking from 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

The cows are milked 50 at a time in a mechanised rotary stand.

Not only are they milked on the stand, they are also fed with grain to increase milk production and to keep them happy!

The cows are very docile and know the routine - they know where to go and what to do without needing much intervention from the farmers.

The circular milking machine in operation at Caldermeade Farm.

Milking Time at Caldermeade Farm

Visitors can see this fascinating computerised process from a viewing room overlooking the whole state-of-the-art facility.

How did dairy farmers manage to milk so many cows by hand every day in the "old days"?

It definitely makes the visitor appreciate the work involved to provide this basic food staple.

As well as the milking there is an animal nursery with baby animals to pat. Children will love the baby goats, chickens, calves, geese, highland cattle and alpacas. There is also the opportunity to hand feed goats.

Baby Goats in the Petting Nursery

A playground in the gardens is another chance for the children to blow off some steam!

The licensed café provides indoor and outdoor dining, with a wide range of eating options served with country style hospitality.

Open for breakfast and lunch with a range of dishes available.

Try to fit in the scrumptious Devonshire tea!

Or try an awesome milkshake or smoothie using the farm's own milk.

There is a range of products for sale using Caldermeade Farm's rich and creamy Jersey milk. Choose from cheeses, ice cream, butter and yoghurt.

These products are available in the cafe or in the adjacent market shed where there are also preserves, local gourmet produce and fresh fruit and vegetables.