This bottle was used in a period when "soft" drink ginger beer was "brewed" not only in homes but also in specific breweries. Most rural areas had families which produced their own ginger beer. Medium to large towns and cities had ginger beer "factories". These factories had large "on bottle" advertising who the producer was. This producer advertising was firmly infused into the bottle and not on removable labels (late 1900's on wards). Regional breweries had a strong following, similar to State beer producing breweries. The competition between breweries of ginger beer was regional and not state or international. Return of bottles was not a sign of saving the environment or becoming eco- friendly but a requirement to keep production costs low. This is highlighted by "This bottle Remains the Property", in other words return when empty. Up to the end of the second World War Australian "soft drink" demand was for local produce. The American invasion of other flavours of "soft drink" came in the 1950's. Multi -Corporations producing non alcoholic beverages at lower production costs reduced local manufacturers considerably. This however had little effect on semi isolated rural areas where home brews flourished.This bottle shows the impact that small regional towns had and still have on semi isolated rural communities(Kiewsa Valley). With better communications (radio/television/newspapers) and a better transport connections specialised breweries such as the Wangaratta Brewery had an extensive customer "hinterland" to serve. The "canny" rural population would be able to reuse this bottle for their own specific purpose. Because of the long distances between Kiewa Valley residences and the major towns available to them, the issue of adaptability of any purchases made was always closely linked to their long term usefulness.This bottle is made from thick clear glass and has a capacity of one and a half pints. It has a flat top with a wooden screw stopper (internal thread). On one side "THIS BOTTLE REMAINS THE PROPERTY OF WANGARATTA BREWERY PTY LTD" On the top rim of bottle on both sides "17". On the bottom of the base are "AGM" AND "346"ginger beer bottle, soft drink bottles, cordial bottles, wangaratta drinks

Folded undated newspaper advertising opening of Cohns Bros Wangaratta Soft Drink Factory. Minister of State Development Mr Manson officially opened same. Large number of district business houses congratulated Cohns on their achievement. An outline of three Cohn brothers arrival in Victoria and their travel to Bendigo and establishing their business in the 1850's gold-rush period.bendigo, industry, cohn bros brewery, official opening of cohns soft drink factory in wangaratta.

Cohns or Cohn Bros. Limited Annual Report 1968. Registered Office : Bridge Street, Bendigo. Soft drink manufacturers. Printed booklet twelve pages in length. Directors : Leo R. Cohn (Chairman), Jack M. Cohn (Managing Director), Clifford B. Cohn, Francis H. Cohn, Albert McB. Fairfoul, Richard N. Levy. Secretary : Valentine F. Moyle. Includes four photographs - Bendigo - soft drink factory, Bendigo - 60 head filling machine, Wangaratta - soft drink factory, and Wangaratta - syrup room.bendigo, industry, cohn bros., cohns. cohn bros. limited.

Folded ten page 'Deed of Association' of the Victorian Associated Brewers dated First day Of June 1916, prepared by Pavey,Wilson & Cohen, Solicitors 360 Collins Street Melbourne. Breweries subject to the Agreement ; Carlton & United Breweries, Melbourne Co-Operative Brewery, Ballarat Brewing Company, Bendigo United Co-Operative Breweries, Fitzgeralds Brewing & Malting Co Castlemaine Limited, Cohns Bros Victoria Brewery, Bryant & Co Proprietary [Stawell] John James Breheny, Thomas Breheny, Peter Martin Breheny and James Patrick Breheny [Breheny Bros Sale] William Shiel and John Shiel Trustees of deceased elder William Shiel ,and younger William Shiel, Walter Garnet Bryant, William John Bryant and Cyharles William Bryant [Bryant & Shiel Bros Wangaratta] Isaac George Hodges and Harry Barkly Hodges [Hodges Bros Geelong] Bryant & Shiel [Shepparton] Breheny Bros & Kenna's Warrenheip , Elizabeth Chamberlain, George Nelson Chamberlain and Charles Cohen [Trustees of the Estate Charles Chamberlain dec and Thos Pritchard [Pritchard & Chamberlain] Francis Mary M'Gee [Sheldrick & Co, Warnambool] Murray Breweries [Beechworth],. Document outlines operation and conditions of Breweries listed. Retail Minimum Price List shows names of various alcoholic drinks and their recommended prices for 1916.bendigo, industry, cohn bros brewery, recommended alcoholic drink price for 1916. the 1916 victorian associated brewers 'deed of association'.

Menu for soft drink industry dinner held at Wangaratta 24th September 1968. Cream coloured cover with black type face and crest of Cohn soft drink manufacturers. The dinner was held at the Pinsent Hotel, Reid St. to celebrate the opening of the new Cohn factory and office blockCohn Brothersorganization, business, cohn bros. limited, cohn brothers wangaratta, pinsent hotel, reid st.

Lieutenant Colonel J.M. Allard was Commanding Officer of 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles 1959 - 1962. He had served with 2/4th Armoured Regiment in World War Two. In the post WWII Citizen Military Force, he was a squadron commander in 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse before being promoted to command 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles. The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Silver drinking mug with 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles badge and engraving on side. Presented to / Lt Col J M Allard / by Men's Mess / A Sqn 8/13 VMR / 26 May 62allard, vmr, mess