Antique Bottles & Collectables
Friday, 22 November - Saturday, 7 December 2024

PHOENIX BREWERY LAUNCESTON TASMANIA CARD SIGN

Lot Details

620mm x 500mm card advertising sign for Phoenix Brewery W H Abbott Patterson St Launceston, made by H Button Litho Launceston, stunning colours and graphics, a tear to the left side has been stabilized with tape to rear, bottom right corner has a crease line A very early advertising Card sign, Very Good 8/10 Company History Harry Abbott: Launceston's soft drink king HENRY Charles (Harry) Abbott was a successful Launceston businessman and generous supporter of his community. Born in Victoria in 1876, Harry Abbott was three years old when his family moved to Launceston in 1879 when his father William Abbott had been appointed manager of the Cornwall Brewery. In 1887 his mother Mary Abbott bought a cordial factory at 79 Paterson Street, next to The Examiner offices, and in 1891 his father William established his own brewery at the back of the site. Their businesses were called the Phoenix Brewery and the Phoenix Aerated Water and Cordial Factory. Harry Abbott's entry in the Launceston Family Album notes that they won numerous awards for their beverages at the Tasmanian Exhibition of 1891-92 in the Albert Hall. Educated in Launceston, Harry Abbott joined the family company and by the age of 19 was in charge of production at his mother's cordial factory. He later became manager. By the 1920s the brewery had closed but Abbott's aerated cordials were being made in Launceston and Hobart and were among the most popular soft drinks in Tasmania. Following the death of his father in 1922 Harry Abbott became chairman of Abbott's Pty Ltd. He was a strong voice for the soft drink industry and a generous supporter of the Launceston community. In 1964 he was awarded an MBE for his philanthropy and died in November 1965, aged 89