This bottle was found in sea water while the donor was snorkelling in Stingray Bay, Warrnambool. It is a marble stopper bottle from the Warrnambool cordial factory of John Fletcher. Th bottle was filled upside down so that as soon as the filling ceased the marble was forced down to seal the bottle against a rubber ring (missing in this bottle). Pressure inside the bottle would keep the marble pressed against the top of the neck. To open the bottle the marble was pressed down so that it fell into the body of the bottle. John Fletcher as a young boy worked at Rowley's Cordial Factory in Banyan Street, Warrnambool. He then worked for John Davis who had established the Union Cordial Factory in Koroit Street in the 1860s. In 1885 John Fletcher bought Davis' business and operated it until 1930. It was then bought by Ralph Reeves. John Fletcher manufactured soda water, lemonade, tonic waters, ginger ale, sarsaparilla, cordials, hop beer and hop bitters.This bottle is of some interest as an example of a marble stopper bottle over 90 years old and as a memento of the Warrnambool soft drinks business of John Fletcher, a prominent businessman in Warrnambool for over 40 years.This is a clear glass bottle with a rounded body, a heavy indentation near the base of the neck and a thick tapering neck with a round opening. The bottle contains a green marble and some marine detritus. The bottle is discoloured with stains and dirt and has lettering etched into the side and base.John Fletcher Ginger Ale Warrnambool This bottle is the property of John Fletcher Warrnambool and cannot be legally used by others Gjohn fletcher warrnambool, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool

It is not known what sort of tool this is but it is possible that it is connected with rope-making or splicing in a maritime trade. As Warrnambool is a coastal city with a port that operated from the time of the first settlement (1847) to the 1940s it is possible that it has a local connection. This item has no known history and no known local provenance and so is retained for display purposes only at this stageThis is a wooden tool with a curved body tapering to a point. There is a small ridge near the thin end. maritime history, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: Wheat Storage Site, June 8th (pencil, upper left)port of portland archives, wheat storage, construction