General News
6 January, 2025
Brewing sweet water: drinks of the goldfields
By KEN ARNOLD THE history of the Whittaker family that became famous on the goldfields making aerated water - soft drink it’s called now - can be traced back to 1797 when Thomas Whittaker was born at Greasly in Nottinghamshire, England. Whittaker...
By KEN ARNOLD
THE history of the Whittaker family that became famous on the goldfields making aerated water - soft drink it’s called now - can be traced back to 1797 when Thomas Whittaker was born at Greasly in Nottinghamshire, England.
Whittaker married Francis Stirland at Greasly in 1817 and they had a son Robert, born on March 29, 1818, who married Elizabeth Darbyshire, aged 25, during 1835. They had at least six children: Thomas (May 28, 1837), Joseph (August 6, 1839), William (April 20, 1842-April 30, 1923), Mary Ann (1844-71), Frances Alice (1847-53 and John (c1853-November 6, 1874.
Robert Whittaker worked in a button factory before learning brick laying from his father. As he found work scarce the family emigrated from Stoke on Trent, at Swan River in Perth on April 28, 1853.
The family moved to Adelaide and then on to Melbourne before prospecting at Alma, Ararat and Inglewood, where William Whittaker also had a restaurant.
The family next moved to Burnt Creek (now Dunolly) settling in Short Street by 1862.
Robert Whittaker continued to follow his trade at Dunolly while his sons Thomas, Joseph and William built a long low slab shed in which they established a brewery and an aerated water and cordial business, they trading as Whittaker Brothers.
Close by to the bridge Robert Whittaker built a red and cream brick house which was demolished several years ago; the underground brick lined tanks are still visible to this day.
A hurricane passed through Dunolly in late March 1868, completely flattening the Whittaker (& Co) Brewery. Joseph Whittaker established a branch factory in Commercial Road, Tarnagulla, around 1872 whilst Thomas did likewise in Argyle Street, Maryborough around 1878, while William continued to run the Dunolly branch.
As Elizabeth Whittaker had died on October 24,1884, it would seem that Robert Whittaker moved to Windsor in Melbourne.
Robert died on December 3, 1896. It is not known when William Whittaker admitted his sons into his business, trading as W (Wm.). Whittaker & Sons, however it would appear it was shortly after April 1886.
As Joseph Whittaker, of Tarnagulla, wanted to retire he sold his business to Wm. Whittaker & Sons, in June 1898, however the factory and shop on site were not offered for lease until February 18, 1905, and then for auction in June 1911.
The Dunolly business was fined 10/- with £3 costs for filling syphons belonging to Bruce & Sons and G. Pritchard of Bendigo in November 1901. Joseph Robert Whittaker was recorded as an aerated water manufacturer at Dunolly in 1903-1904 and 1915-16. Wm. Whittaker & Sons, Dunolly, ordered 432 cork seal ginger beer bottles from the Bendigo Pottery in June 1923, some 448 being delivered.
William Whittaker married Hannah Maria, daughter of farmers John and Hannah Maria Daly, nee Maloney, a native of Limerick, Ireland, who landed at Melbourne on January 15, 1865, during 1868. They had at least four children: Joseph Robert (c1868-1942), Samuel William (c1870-1935), Theresa Elizabeth (c1875-1955) and Thomas John (1882-1966).
William Whittaker, a keen supporter of football, cricket and other sports, died on April 30, 1923, leaving an estate of £1796 and property to the value of £29,972. He was survived by his widow, Hannah, four sons and three daughters. Hannah died just seventeen days later, aged 81 years.
The business was next run by Joseph R. and Thomas. During World War One the loan by Dunolly residents was £3000 of which the Whittaker family contributed £2100. Joseph Robert and Thomas John Whittaker were both recorded as retired cordial makers in the will of the former dated, September 13, 1929, so the factory must have closed around 1928.