Historical information

Sigma was founded by two Melbourne pharmacists in 1912, it has grown to become one of the key players in Australia’s pharmacy industry .Edwin Thomas Church (1864 – 1947) and Ernest Holloway Leete a prominent chemist and a member of the College of Pharmacy who had established his own pharmacy in 1897. The entrepreneurial Leete had been part of a move in 1904 among a group of commercially-minded chemists to put up proprietary preparations. 1913 - 1927 Initially, the fortunes of the Sigma enterprise relied on E. H. Leete ‘working from home’, and even as late as 1915 company address was in Claremont Avenue Malvern. Following the establishment of the business in 1912, the Sigma Company Limited was located at Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Sigma – Tromax, 1928 E.H. Leete after sixteen years, said he would not stand again as a director of the company because interests were also turning elsewhere. He was assisting another company as its agent in the motor trade. 1938 to1953 was characterised by steady growth for Sigma, accelerated by manufacturing opportunities during World War Two. Between 1975 and 1996 the company was transformed as it entered a period of both consolidation and rapid growth. The appointment, in 1996, of new Managing Director, George Savvides, marked a break from the past. Today Sigma is a leading full line wholesale and distribution business to pharmacy. Sigma is also the owner of some of Australia’s best known pharmacy brands in Amcal, Guardian and Amcal Max

Physical description

A triangular shaped, brown glass, bottle with a metal screw top containing ‘Campholine’

Inscriptions & markings

Front label : Campholine / Camphorated / Mineral Oil / CAUTION ! / Use strictly in accordance / with the directions / Adults : Rub briskly on parts affected . Infants ; Use gentle massage . / 20z. / TROMAX / SIGMA CO. Ltd. / MELBOURNE /

Label Sticker : ROBERTSON OF ELSTERNWICK 1/ 8