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Antique Oyster Bottles
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Early shell-burned mortar
Above, masonry work on Henry Kendall Cottage, Central Coast. Small shell fragments in early shell-burned mortar between hand-cut sandstone blocks. Circa 1840.
The Central Coast's first oyster lease?
Above, December, 1892, Department of Fisheries oyster lease notice for Brisbane Water. In the name of J. Murray. Note: 'Area' (as above) indicates a previous lease had already been in existence i.e. "part of cancelled lease No. 1136". Who owned this previous lease and was it the Central Coast's very first oyster lease? (Researched by Gwen Dundon).
Oyster Bottles:
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Firm: A. Danclade
Location: Newtown, Sydney Description: Flat, four-sided, applied top. Colour - clear glass (turns amethyst). Embossed on front: "THIS BOTTLE IS THE PROPERTY OF A. DANCLADE, NEWTOWN OYSTER STALL". Bottle maker's name: Z.G.B.W. Ltd
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Left to right:
Firm: H.O. Co. (Reported to be Hawkesbury Oyster Co.) Location: Unknown Description: Square concave sided bottle. "OYSTERS" embossed vertically on right side. Applied top. Colour - aqua. Bottle maker's name: nil
Firm: Unknown Location: Unknown Description: Square concave sided bottle. "OYSTERS" embossed vertically on back. Applied top. Colour - aqua. Embossed on front an oval outline with a thick diamond shape in the middle. Bottle maker's name: nil
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Left to right:
Firm: John Ongley. Listed under oyster saloons 1902-1913. From 1915 oyster merchants. Found in John Sand Business Directories 1902-1913. Location: 209 George Street, Sydney. Moved to Gibbons Street, Redfern in 1915. Embossed on front: "JOHN ONGLEY". Description: Flat four sided bottle. Very crudely made. On the tops the lip has been reheated and given a smoother edge while in factory. Colour - aqua/clear. Bottle maker's name: nil
Firm: John Cowan Location: unknown Description: Available in both shear top and smoothed edged top. Embossed: "JOHN COWAN". Bottle maker's name: nil
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Left to right:
Firm: Lloyd's Oysters Location: Brooklyn, NSW Description: Flat four sided bottle. Applied top. Colour - aqua. Embossed on front: "LLOYD'S OYSTERS HAWKESBURY RIVER". Bottle maker's name: nil Firm: I. Lloyds Location: Brooklyn, NSW Description: Tall cylinder. Colour - clear glass. Bottle maker's name: (curved)" A.G.M. 3971"
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Firm: Richard's Oyster Service
Location: Town Hall, Sydney Left to right: A. Flat four-sided bottle. "OYSTERS" embossed vertically on both sides. Clear glass. Maker's name: Curved "A.G.M. 396" B. Tall cylinder with curved sides (known as ladies' waist). Applied top. Colour: aqua. Bottle maker's name: "R.O.S." embossed on base. C. Tall cylinder with straight sides. Embossed on back: "THIS BOTTLE ALWAYS REMAINS THE PROPERTY OF L.A. RICHARDS. CONTENTS ONLY FOR SALE." Colour: clear glass. Bottle maker's name: Monogram "A.G.M. U177". D. Tall cylinder. Curved sides. Screw top. Clear glass. Embossed on side: "REG RICHARDS". Bottle maker's name: nil E. Tall cylinder. Embossed on reverse: "THIS BOTTLE ALWAYS REMAINS THE PROPERTY OF L.A. RICHARDS. CONTENTS FOR SALE". Clear glass. Original white plastic top. Bottle maker's name: monogram "A.G.M. U177".
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Left to right: Firm: Orfords Oysters Location: Sydney Description: Screw top and rolled lip. Clear glass. Embossed on side: "Orfords Oysters". Bottle maker's name: nil
Firm: Clarence Lewis Oyster Service. Location: Taren Point, Sydney. Description: Tall cylinder embossed on back vertically: "CLARENCE LEWIS OYSTER SERVICE". Clear glass. Heavy glass embossing from the 1940's-1950's. Bottle maker's name: Monogram "A.G.M."
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Firm: Smiths Oyster Service.
Location: Marrickville, Sydney. Description: Tall cylinder embossed on reverse vertically: "SMITH'S QUALITY OYSTERS". Clear glass. Rolled lip top (left) and screw top (right). Bottle maker's name: monogram " A.G.M."
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Left to right:
Firm: J. Black, Brisbane. Firm: Comino, Brisbane. Firm: Fresh Food and Ice Company, Brisbane. Description: 'Ongley' type oyster bottles. Note: no other information available to date.
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Firm: Mick Simmons (sporting shop)
Location: Sydney Description: Applied top. Heavy embossing: "BYTQUIK PRAWNS FOR BAIT. MICK SIMMONS". Clear or amethyst glass. Approximatly 150 mm tall. Also available with shear top. Circa 1900-1910. Under ten examples known. Bottle maker's name: nil
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Firm: Brisbane Water Oyster Co Location: Brickwharf Road, Woy Woy, NSW Description: Pentagon-shaped bottle, oysters embossed vertically on one panel. Applied top. Colour - aqua, one found turning amethyst. Very rare in mint condition. Bottle maker's name: nil.
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Left to right:
Firm: Brisbane Water Oyster Co Location: Brickwharf Road, Woy Woy, NSW Description: Square concave-sided bottle. Oysters embossed vertically on right side. Applied top. Colour - aqua. Bottle maker's name: nil
Firm: Brisbane Water Oyster Co Location: Brickwharf Road, Woy Woy, NSW Description: Flat, four-sided bottle, embossed on reverse: "This bottle is the property of Brisbane Water Oyster Co. Woy Woy". Applied top. Colour - aqua, blue, amethyst. Blue being the rarest colour, although clear ones not already turned amethyst are reportedly being sought after. Bottle maker's name: nil |
Oyster advertisements -
Hawkesbury River and Central Coast:
(Reseached by Gwen Dundon)
1. Lloyd's of Hawkesbury River, 1924.
2. Fred Warmoll, who may have previously been associated with Brisbane Water Oyster (B.W.O.). 1910, Woy Woy.
3. Warmoll and Alderton, Woy Woy, 1928. At least one bottle (pre-1920's) is known from this company.
4. Thistle Oysters by the Buie family of Hawkesbury River, 1922 - no known bottles yet.
