Historical information

In 1888, George Henry Billson (1844-1927), who had run a brewery and aerated water factory with his father in Beechworth, established an aerated water factory in Brighton Road, St Kilda, in partnership with his brothers. The partnership, trading as Billson Brothers, lasted four years. The business then became known as G.H. Billson in 1892. During 1904 the Manager, Frederick William Tozer, was admitted as a partner and the business traded as G.H. Billson & Company. The partnership was dissolved in 1918.
While George Henry's Melbourne-based business ended in 1918, the original family brewery in Beechworth merged and evolved over the decades. In December 2024, the owners announced that the Billson's Brewery brand of ready-to-drink beverages would be acquired by The Coca-Cola Company. The owners would keep running the cordials, soda and beer operations and, having sold the brand name, changed the name of the company to Last Street in 2025.

Physical description

Glass bottle with red plastic top, with spout, lever and tube. Words are sandblasted into the glass.

Inscriptions & markings

On top, around the perimeter: COHN BROS LTD. VICTORIA
On front of bottle:
Company logo comprising concentric circles and images. The outer circle contains the words G.H. BILSON & CO. MELBOURNE. Within it is a stylised compass design. Around the inner edge of the compass are the words BRIGHTON RD. ST. KILDA 1914. At the centre of the compass is a six-pointed shape that contains two crossed swords above G.H.B. REGD. TRADE MARK
On back of bottle: G.H. BILSON & CO.