Documents

Lot 2505    SESSION 7 (9.30AM THURSDAY 26TH NOVEMBER)    Documents

Estimate $560
Bid at live.noble.com.au

BANKING EPHEMERA, a unique and important collection of 33 original Bills of Sale and Leases to 14 hotels in the Clair wine region of South Australia from 1888-1900, (33); together with 60 paid E S & A cheques relating to owners or leaseholders from 1868-1966 (60). In a folder with collector's research and list, very fine to extremely fine. (93)

Clare Brewery was founded by Mr. W. Filgate in a small building in the main street of Clare around the early 1860s and was later moved to larger premises at the northern end of town and operated under the name of Filgate & Richardson. John Christison became a partner and in 1905 sole proprietor, changing the name from Enterprise Brewery to Clare Brewery. He continued to expand the business and at one time owned or leased at least 13 hotels throughout the Mid-North of the state.

John Christison died in 1912 and the business was sold and the Clare Co-operative Brewing Co. Ltd. was formed. John Christison's widow was on the board of directors. Updated plant was installed, but state legislation changed trading hours, which affected profits, particularly draught beer sales and the brewery closed in 1917.

The aerated water and cordial side of the business continued to operate as Clare Mineral Waters, managed by Frank Bulfield, who had been the brewery secretary from 1912.

Tim Knappstein, of Stanley Wine Company purchased the building in 1976 and established a new business as Clare Enterprise Winery. A later merger with Wolf Blass expanded the winery into the export market and the business and building were purchased by Lion Nathan. Premium wines and boutique beer are now produced on the premises as Knappstein Enterprise Winery and Brewery.

Saved from destruction c1984, by the vendor, they were part of the contents of the hayloft at the old ES&A bank branch at Clare S.A. (now ANZ) which the bank intended to have removed burnt and buried.

The original documents, together with a collection of over 60 cheques issued over a period of around 150 years that were issued and relevant to people and premises in the documents and the history of the brewery combine to make this a unique and very important collection of local history that is unlikely to ever be duplicated for any other town in Australia.

Full details of Bills of Sale and Leases available on request.