Chas Cole Display – National Bottle and Collectables Show
A feature of the exhibition side of the 2016 National Bottle and Collectables show will be a massive display of memorabilia, bottles and more from the Geelong company Chas Cole and Co. This display will include many notable and rare items kindly on loan for the occasion from several local collectors. The Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club are delighted that so many have been willing to help to make this unique display of local collectables possible.
Geelong’s Industrial and Mercantile History
Chas Cole and Co were a major player in the development of industrial Geelong. Charles Cole’s father, Edward was a Wine and Spirit merchant in Geelong from at least 1848 and continued through to the 1880s. Charles (born 1859) started in the family firm but had commenced his own business in the same line by 1884. He was certainly making cordials from near the start and added aerated waters to his business around 1890. The production of aerated waters in particular has left a legacy of wonderful bottles for collectors today. The trade mark of a Heron catching a Fish inspires the Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club logo of a bird catching a bottle. The aerated water business was separated and recapitalised in 1919 under the name Geelong Aerated Waters.
The wine and spirit business continued for many years. Through their time Cole and Co ordered bottles from glassworks and potteries in Australia and the United Kingdom, labels from printers in Melbourne and Ballarat and advertising items from whoever would supply them.
As a combined group the changes in style and form provide an excellent snapshot of the changes occurring in design more generally from the late 19th century through to the 1930s. This will be a fascinating display for anyone interested in Geelong, Industrial or Advertising history.