Why Europa cheese?

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Steve | John | Sallie 

 

Over 50 Years of Italian Heritage

Europa Cheese was established back in 1971, building a half-century legacy of traditional Australian-Italian cheesemaking. Famous for its time-honoured techniques and hard cheeses, Europa has long been a staple of Victorian dairy history.

Our Move to Pakenham

As Gippsland Jersey outgrew our original processing facility in Lakes Entrance, we needed more space to keep up with our growing range of milk and butter. Buying the historic Europa Cheese factory in Pakenham allowed us to set up a larger processing hub and step straight into the world of artisan cheese.

Learning from the Master

We didn't just buy the building—we kept the soul of the business intact. Europa’s original founder, John Interlandi, stepped into the vat room to work side-by-side with our co-founder, Steve. John has been personally passing down his family’s traditional recipes and old-world techniques, teaching us how to craft authentic Pecorino, Romano, and long-maturing Parmesan. John is still with us today teaching us about Cheese. 

Why We Sell Europa Cheese

When we took over the Pakenham factory, the coolrooms were brimming with aged, beautifully crafted cheese that was ready to enjoy. To make sure none of that incredible work went to waste, we struck an agreement to sell Europa’s existing stock under their original, iconic brand alongside our own products. Today, we continue to run both separate labels under one roof: producing signature Gippsland Jersey dairy while handcrafting and selling traditional Europa cheeses using their historic recipes and branding.