J S Rowley operated a cordial factory on the corner of Timor and Banyan Streets from the 1860’s through to the sale of the business in 1897. They produced a number of different products : cloves, kola champagne, ginger beer, lemonade, lithia water, hop beer, orange bitters to mention some. The brewery won a number of awards for its products over the years.A common item which was locally made with a strong link to a local business. 2 clear glass bottles with indented towards the top. Marble encased in neck region of bottle. Writing embossed in glass.D K marked in glass on bottom of bottle. J S Rowley Aerated Waters Warrnambool written in glass sideways on bottle. warrnambool, warrnambool history, warrnambool bottle, j s rowley brewery, brewery warrnambool, j s rowley cordial

This bottle was made in Epsom, Bendigo at the Bendigo Pottery Works. The bottle contained ginger beer manufactured at the cordials factory of J.S. Rowley at the corner of Timor and Banyan Streets, Warrnambool. John Searle Rowley (1837-1893) opened a branch of the Geelong Corio Brewery in Timor Street and in 1868 established a cordial manufacturing plant on the site. The brewery section closed and the cordial manufacturing section, called the Warrnambool Steam Aerated Waters works, was expanded, By the 1880s there were 13 employees and 20 varieties of soft drinks were being produced. After Rowley died in 1893 the business continued under the same name with Ralph Reeves managing the plant from 1900 until he moved to Koroit Street and operated a cordial factory under his own name. This bottle is of interest as an example of the soft drinks manufactured by J.S.Rowley of Banyan Street Warrnambool. This business was an important one in Warrnambool in the second half of the 19th century and early in the 20th century. This is a ceramic bottle in brown and buff colouring. The top has two chips. There is no stopper. ‘J.S. Rowley Hamilton and Warrnambool Ginger Beer’ ‘The Bendigo Pottery Epsom Bendigo’ j.s. rowley cordial manufacturer, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

These labels come from the Warrnambool Reeves Cordial Factory. John Reeves came to Warrnambool about 1900 and managed the cordial bottling plant in Banyan Street for Jim Kelly who traded under the name of the previous cordial manufacturer, J. S. Rowley. In 1931 John Reeves purchased the cordial factory in Koroit Street from the estate of John Fletcher. John Reeves’ son, Reg managed the cordial business in Koroit Street until 1946 when he took over from his father and carried on the business until his death in 1972. In 1977 Reeves’ son-in-law carried on the business under the trading name of Reeves. The building in Koroit Street that stands today was erected in 1957 when the original building was demolished. These labels are of interest because they are colourful and pleasing to the eye and because the Reeves Cordial Factory was a major business in Warrnambool for several decades in the 20th century..1 to .9 Piece of paper with curved edges with multi-coloured printing and coloured geometric decoration. .10 A piece of paper with yellow, red and white printing and images of a crown and a stage curtain. .1 Reeves’ Imitation Cordial Vanilla .2 Reeves’ Imitation Cordial Caramel .3 Reeves’ Flavoured Cordial Lime .4 Reeves’ Flavoured Cordial Chocolate .5 Reeves’ Flavoured Cordial Chillie .6 Reeves’ Flavoured Cordial Orange .7 Reeves’ Flavoured Cordial Orange & Lemon .8 Reeves’ Flavoured Cordial Fruit Cup .9 Reeves’ Flavoured Cordial Pineapple .10 Queen’s Toast Artificially Coloured Reeves Warrnambool reeves cordial factory, history of warrnambool