A blast from the past - #2 - Nowra Cordials

themda(46)

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G'day Steemians, today i want to share with you all a piece of rare local history i obtained on one of my first ever bottle digs.

This is a 26oz ceramic label bottle from the 60's
Nowra Cordials produced various drinks over the span of 80 years and had several owners since its humble Pollock Family beginnings in 1883.

The factory burnt down and shortly after the rights to Nowra Cordials were sold to Shelley's Sydney (Coca-Cola).
Remnants of the building still exist today.

Yesterday i finally met with an ex employee of the bottling plant to try and get some better insight into the company's history, he started working there at the age of 14 loading cases into the cars of the elderly so he could buy a wetsuit. James (Jim) Kelly was the last manufacturing owner, a returned prisoner of war who raised an Australian Flag upon release, he and his comrades hand stitched and hid it whilst imprisoned.

Mr Kelly was a kind man and the cordial was loved by the town, the country, the world abroad.

I found 3 Nowra cordial bottles worth about $60 each so i left one with the man as keepsake for his children, it brought a tear to his eyes when i pulled them out of the bag and i could tell that they were priceless to him.

Some of the earlier pottery and Codd bottles are also highly sought after.'

Thanks for reading.

@themda