Historical information

These two bottles have contained milk sold by the Warrnambool firm of Antarctic Ice Pty Ltd. in the mid 20th century.In the 1930s a pasteurizing plant was set up in Warrnambool in conjunction with an ice works in Kepler Street known as Antarctic Ice (Good and Stevenson). This firm had secured a milk supply from farmers in the Warrnambool region. Eventually Antarctic Ice was bought by the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory and Kraft Foods as equal partners and the milk was marketed as Sungold. Also a farmer named Kaye Ryan had set up a pasteurization plant in East Warrnambool (Raglan Parade/Verdon Street) in opposition to Antarctic Ice and Sungold. Kraft and Warrnambool Cheese and Butter bought out Ryan and moved Sungold operations to the Ryan site. Kraft Foods sold its share of Sungold to Warrnambool Cheese and Butter and in 1989 the milk factory was moved to the Allansford site of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter and Sungold continues there today.

Significance

These bottles are of interest, firstly as examples of the half-pint milk bottles familiar to people living in the mid 20th century and secondly because they are good examples of the bottles used by an important Warrnambool business, Antarctic Ice.

Physical description

These are two clear glass bottles. When filled each bottle contained 10 fluid ounces or half a pint of milk. The bottles have a round base with a rounded body tapering slightly to a thick neck and a thick moulded top. The bottles when filled had a seal consisting of a circle of waxed cardboard that was pressed into a recess on the lip of the bottle. These lids are missing.The bottles have lettering impressed into the glass.

Inscriptions & markings

‘This bottle contains milk bottled for sale by Antarctic Ice Products Pty Ltd Warrnambool and always remains their property. It is loaned and cannot be legally used or sold by others.’
‘Contents 10 ozs.’
‘497’