The making of cordials and aerated waters was an important industry in Warrnambool from the time of the first settlement up to the 1980s. John Rowley was a prominent producer of aerated waters and cordials from 1868 to his death in 1893 (the Warrnambool Steam Aerated Works). He was known for his originality in the production of soft drinks and produced 20 varieties of drinks, including his own Henneberry Wine and Lime Fruit Champagne, both non-alcoholic. In the 1870s he was producing 600 dozen bottles a day and in the 1880s his cordial factory occupied half an acre of land and employed 13 people. He won many awards for his products at local Agricultural Shows. Warrnambool cordial bottles are of considerable significance as examples of an important industry now gone. Rowley is a significant person in the history of 19th century Warrnambool industries and Rowley bottles are of considerable importance, especially this one, made for efferverscent drinks. This is a heavy glass bottle (no stopper) possibly used for hop bitters or ginger wine or some contents that had high efferverscent qualities. The bottle has a heavy indented base. Oval etching ‘J.S.,Rowley Warrnambool’ with ‘Trade Mark’ and monogram. ‘J.R.’ in the centre of the oval. ‘Made in France’ is at the bottom edge of the oval inscriptions.warrnambool, john rowley warrnambool, rowley softdrinks, warrnambool steam aerated works, rowley bottle

In 1868 John Rowley opened a soda water manufactory attached to the Corio Brewery and this was renamed the Warrnambool Steam Aerated Works in 1872. By the 1880s his factory at the corner of Timor and Banyan Streets was occupying half an acre of land , employing 13 people and manufacturing 20 varieties of drinks. Following Rowley's death the factory and plant was sold but the cordial manufacturing business continued for some years. These labels are of great significance as John Rowley was a dominant name in the cordial making business in Warrnambool..1 Rectangular , red, green, blue and white label featuring text, two flags with lions, a sailing ship, a sheep and a sheaf of wheat. There is a scroll with text. A white decorative border surrounds the label. It is adhered to a piece of red thin cardboard. .2 Irregular shaped label with gold and green decorations on a white background and text. The decorative pieces include grapes, vine leaves, flowers, the profile of a wolf, and two medallions with the coat of arms of Warrnambool There are two scrolls with text The label is adhered to a piece of white card. .5 Rectangular Multi coloured label with text adhered to a piece of white paper .4 Rectangular green card with text .3 Hexagonal grey/green label with black and red text and decorative black dotted curls mounted on white paper .6 White rectangular label with blue text and decorative surround of leaves and flowers. It has damage to three corners. .7 White label with blue text and decorative border adhered to white paper. .8 Pale pink rectangular card label with rose coloured text and a decorative border. .9 Cream rectangular label with red text and decorative border adhered to a piece of white paper 10.1, 10.2 Cream rectangular labels with red text. .2 is adhered to white paper. 11.1, 11.2 Cream rectangular labels with red text and borders adhered to white paper..1 ROWLEY'S STANDARD CLOVES WARRNAMBOOL COLOURED WITH BURNT SUGAR .2 Warrnambool NULLI SECUNDUS BY THESE WE FLOURISH STANDARD ORANGE BITTERS J.S.ROWLEY .3 STANDARD HOP BEER J.S. ROWLEY AERATED WATERS & CORDIAL MANUFACTURER WARRNAMBOOL .4 Rowley's SPARKLING Ginger Champagne NON ALCOHOLIC AND INVIGORATING .5 WARRNAMBOOL J.S.ROWLEY'S GINGERALE. TO HIS EXCELLENCY LORD BRASSEY K.G.B. .6 ROWLEY'S LEMONADE MANUFACTURED WITH THOROUGHLY FILTERED RAIN WATER WARRNAMBOOL .7 ROWLEY'S LITHIA WATER .8 ROWLEY'S TONIC WATER .9 ROWLEY'S GINGER BEER .10.1 ,10.2 ROWLEY'S KOLA CHAMPAGNE A Most Highly Refreshing and Excellent Beverage. Its properties are unequalled for preventing fatigue. .11 J.S ROWLEY, MANUFACTURER WARRNAMBOOL & HAMILTON CONTENTS APPROXIMATELY 25 OZ. THIS CORDIAL DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY PRESERVATIVE .2 Warrnambool NULLI SECUNDUS BY THESE WE FLOURISH STANDARD ORANGE BITTERS J.S ROWLEY john rowley, cordial manufacture

This bottle was known as a torpedo bottle. As the bottle had to lie on its side the soda was kept in contact with the cork and stopped the cork from shrinking and causing loss of pressure. This bottle comes from the Warrnambool aerated waters factory of John Searle Rowley (1837-1893). John Rowley, born in England, came to Australia in 1856 and in 1865 he opened a branch of the Geelong Corio Brewery at the corner of Timor and Banyan Streets in Warrnambool, bottling the beer, not brewing it. In 1870 this business was closed and Rowley developed his soft drinks business which he had established in 1868. In 1872 the business was called the Warrnambool Steam Aerated Works when a steam engine was purchased from Melbourne. In 1872 the factory was turning out 600 dozen bottles a day. By the 1880s the factory was occupying half an acre of land, was employing 13 people and manufacturing 20 varieties of drinks. Rowley died in 1893. He had been active in community affairs, serving four years on the Warrnambool Council and on the committees of the Warrnambool Hospital and the Mechanics Institute. This bottle is of great interest as it comes from the factory of the prominent 19th century Warrnambool aerated waters manufacturer, John Rowley. Few of his bottles have survived today. Cordial and soft drinks manufacturing was an important industry in Warrnambool for over 100 years and John Rowley was a key figure in this industry.This is a glass bottle, tinted green. The body of the bottle has an oval shape tapering to a point at the end and is known as a torpedo bottle. It can only be stored lying on its side. The neck of the bottle ends with a moulded glass top. There is no stopper. The bottle is slightly discoloured inside. The information on the maker is embossed into the body of the bottle.‘J.S. Rowley’s Aerated Waters Timor Street Warrnambool’john searle rowley, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This marble stopper bottle came from the Warrnambool aerated waters manufacturer, John Rowley. A marble stopper bottle was filled upside down so that as soon as the filling stopped the stopper was forced down to seal the bottle against the rubber ring. Pressure inside the bottle would keep the marble pressed against the top of the bottle. To open the bottle the marble was pressed down where it would fall into the neck chamber below. The marble would stay inside the chamber when the bottle was tilted up for drinking. John Rowley (1837-1893) was born in England and came to Australia in 1856. In 1865 he opened a branch of the Geelong Corio Brewery at the corner of Timor and Banyan Streets, Warrnambool, bottling the beer, not brewing it. In 1870 this business was closed and Rowley developed his soft drinks business which he had established in 1868. In 1872 the business was called the Warrnambool Steam Aerated Works when a steam engine was purchased from Melbourne. By this time the factory was turning out 600 dozen bottles a day. For some time Rowley also had a factory in the Western District town of Hamilton. By the 1880s the Warrnambool factory was occupying half an acre of land, was employing 13 people and manufacturing 20 varieties of drinks. Rowley was active in community affairs, serving four years on the Warrnambool Council and he was on the committees of the Warrnambool Hospital and the Mechanics’ Institute.This bottle is of great interest as it comes from the factory of the prominent 19th century Warrnambool aerated waters manufacturer, John Rowley. This is one of the few bottles we have from the Rowley factory. Cordial manufacturing was an important industry in Warrnambool for over 100 years and John Rowley was a key figure in this industry. This is a marble stopper green-coloured glass bottle. The body is rounded with a round base and it has deep indentations at the top of the body that narrows to form a small chamber. The neck tapers to the top of the bottle which has a moulded glass top and a rubber ring inside the top. A green marble is loose in the neck chamber. Details of the soft drinks manufacturer are impressed into the glass on the side of the bottle. ‘J.S.Rowley’s Aerated Waters Warrnambool & Hamilton’ ‘D. K.’ john searle rowley, warrnambool, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

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