By Peter Symes, 235 pages, with extensive footnotes and colour illustrations.
AUD45.00, including postage (at $15.00) within Australia.
This is the Story of Websters—Cordial and Soft Drink Manufacturers of Ariah Park, Ardlethan, Narrandera and Griffith.
Thomas Webster was inducted into the mysteries of manufacturing cordials and soft drinks in the 1870s. Years later, after many a twist and turn in his career, he and his son Alfred commenced manufacturing beverages in Ariah Park, New South Wales. They began trading as “T. J. Webster and Son” in 1911 and soon expanded to Ardlethan.
Alfred Webster later took sole control of the enterprise in Ardlethan and renewed the business as “A. H. Webster”. After World War II Alfred’s four sons—Harold, Keith, Bruce and Reg—joined him to create “A. H. Webster and Sons”, expanding their presence to Narrandera and then to Griffith. During their expansion they took over cordial and soft drink manufacturers in Narrandera, Griffith, Temora, Leeton and Wagga Wagga. In the 1970s and 1980s they were the leading manufacturer and distributor of soft drinks, fruit juices and cordials in the Riverina.
This volume takes the reader through the history of the Websters’ businesses and highlights the struggles and successes that were visited on the family over many years.
There are pages dedicated to the bottles used by Websters, an excellent reference for bottle collectors.