Collectors Gear Up for 49th Antique Bottle Show in Dunedin

The 49th National Antique Bottle & Collectables Show is set to take place in Dunedin on September 27 and 28, 2024. This highly anticipated event will feature over 150 exhibitors from both New Zealand and Australia, showcasing a wide array of private collections. Among the unique items on display will be rare stone jars from the city’s historic breweries, offering a glimpse into Dunedin’s brewing past.

Dunedin collector Stephen Tarasiewicz will highlight his extensive collection of jars used by local brewing companies dating back to the 1880s. He focuses on jars that were employed by businesses such as Powley & Keast, a bottler located on Hope Street that managed all bottling for Speight’s Brewery. Large barrels of beer were delivered to Powley’s, which then decanted the contents into ceramic jars ranging from two to five gallons. These refillable jars featured taps for easy pouring and were used by households and commercial establishments, including hotels and pubs.

“They have all got little screw caps, so when they poured themselves a beer, they could lock it up and the gas would stay pretty right,” Tarasiewicz explained. He noted that draught beer, such as Speight’s, was less fizzy during that era, featuring a higher concentration of hops compared to modern brews. “Preservatives in those days were about the amount of hops that you would put in the beer,” he added.

The same style of ceramic jars was also utilized by other local breweries, including J. R. Briggs’ Standard Brewery in Caversham, Wm Strachan & Co Victoria Brewery in Pitt Street, and McGavin & Co Union Brewery in Duke Street. Each jar prominently displayed the brewery’s name along with advertisements for beer styles and awards. While jars could be returned for refilling, the labels cautioned that they were to be filled only with the named brewery’s beer.

Tarasiewicz shared an interesting rivalry among the breweries, stating, “They used to have wars between the breweries and quite often McGavin’s or Strachan’s would grind each other’s embossing out and put their label on the bottles.” This competitive spirit added an intriguing layer to collecting, as enthusiasts often encountered ground-off bottles with puzzling histories.

The use of ceramic jars persisted into the 20th century until growing concerns about hygiene prompted a shift to glass flagons and aluminum kegs. Tarasiewicz began his collection at the age of ten, driven by a fascination with the social history behind these items. “You always think about ‘where has this thing travelled?’” he remarked.

“I’m really obviously passionate about beer. I used to brew beer, drink a lot of beer, but not so much these days,” he added, highlighting the personal connection he feels with his collection.

Visitors attending the 49th National Antique Bottle & Collectables Show will not only have the opportunity to explore Tarasiewicz’s collection but can also purchase items and participate in an auction. The event will feature a diverse array of collectibles, including goldfields artifacts, general store jars, early cameras, and autographs from movie stars of the 1930s and 1940s.

“There are some really rare sort of historical things,” Tarasiewicz noted, emphasizing the richness of the collections on display. The show will take place at the Edgar Centre on Portsmouth Drive, running from 10 AM to 4 PM on both days.

For more information, interested parties can contact the Otago Antique Bottle & Collectables Club at [email protected]. This event marks a significant reunion for collectors and enthusiasts alike, as it returns to Dunedin for the first time since 2008.