Old Dairy Farm, Paddock C3S

What if I told you a Scottish doctor’s disgust with Hong Kong’s milk supply led to the creation of the very place we stand, the Old Dairy Farm, Paddock C3S? In the late 19th century, Dr. Patrick Manson, appalled by the unhygienic “dairies of the Chinese slums,” envisioned a better way. He, along with several businessmen, founded the Dairy Farm in Pok Fu Lam in 1886. The Old Dairy Farm, Paddock C3S, is a remnant of that ambitious endeavor. Initially, 80 Friesian cows were imported from Scotland, bringing a taste of home to the British expatriates in Hong Kong. The early days were challenging. The bubonic plague and rinderpest outbreaks threatened to wipe out the entire operation. However, a quick-thinking farmhand named Cheuk Yau saved 30 cows, ensuring the farm’s survival. Dairy Farm’s impact extended beyond milk. They built a cold storage warehouse on Lower Albert Road in 1890, importing frozen meat from Australia. This warehouse even housed a quality control lab. This expansion marked Dairy Farm’s growth from a local dairy to a major player in Hong Kong’s food industry. The Old Dairy Farm, Paddock C3S, specifically started its operations in 1941. This site witnessed the farm’s evolution and eventual closure in 1983. Today, what remains are echoes of a bygone era: senior staff quarters from the late 19th century and more modern staff housing from the 1950s. These structures stand as silent witnesses to the farm’s rich history. Dairy Farm’s legacy extends beyond these physical remnants. It paved the way for supermarkets and convenience stores across Asia, including 7-Eleven and IKEA in Hong Kong. The Old Dairy Farm, Paddock C3S, represents a piece of that fascinating journey, a testament to a Scottish doctor’s vision and a farmhand’s courage.