Ten years later aerated water and cordials were made at steam factories and wood yards.

Then, with the gold rush in Victoria, came an increased demand for drinks to quench the thirst of miners.

Bottles for cordials firstly were made of stoneware for the ginger beer and hop beer, later a very thick glass with a round stopper was used. 

The first cordial manufacturing in the Inverell district was around 1884 with P Shannon making ginger beer bottled in stone jars.

From the late 1800s Inverell had seven cordial makers including Charles Egan Jnr, James Scales, John Finlayson, John Regan, John Harrison, Joseph Brissett and Henry Turnham.

In 1902 Joseph Brissett commenced The Inverell Steam Aerated water and Cordial Factory in Bent Street making lemonade, sparkling fruit drinks, hop beer, orange champagne, Kolo champagne and ginger wine. They also produced pure vinegar.

This same year Henry Turnham purchased the cordial factory and wood yard in Campbell Street from John Finlayson.

Turnham produced lemonade, ginger ale and soda water. Refrigeration to keep everything cold and healthy in the hot weather was a big concern.

Not only did the factory make drinks; they supplied ice to butcher shops and other merchants in town. Soon there was a house delivery to those who had ice chests.

Meanwhile Regan and Thomas were bottling ginger beer, ginger ale, and orange champagne as well as vinegar. John Regan sold to the Thomas Brothers in 1910. Charles Egan sold in 1921.

By 1929 F & E Thomas built a new brick brewing room on the site of the old Bent Street cordial factory. They also purchased Mr Sayers Glen Innes cordial factory and later took over other Inverell factories.

Daily deliveries were made all around the region as well as in Inverell.

Known as Snowclad Cordials, they became the largest up-to-date cordial factory in the north west, bottling 110 dozen per hour and working 24 hours a day.

Not only were they making cordials but beautiful creamy ice cream. Today the old Snowclad building is a storage unit and electrical store.

Did you have a favourite Snowclad cordial?