Image right: Arnott's advertisement from The Home: an Australian Quarterly Vol.11 No. 12, 1 December 1930
Arnott’s biscuits are known far and wide, but did you know that the famous biscuit company once made Christmas cakes and puddings too? Baker, William Arnott established his biscuit business in Maitland and Newcastle from the 1850s onwards. Expanding into Sydney, Arnott's opened a large factory in Homebush in 1908.
By the 1880s, Arnott’s were also producing Christmas cakes.[1] The Daily Telegraph of 16 December 1893 reviewed the festive offerings of several Sydney department stores. At Anthony Hordern and Sons in the Haymarket, it was reported that ‘Already 3000 of Arnott’s celebrated Christmas cakes, specially manufactured for A. Hordern and Sons, have been sold, and 5000 more will follow them ere the festive season closes.’ [2]
The following year the Daily Telegraph noted that ‘Arnott’s Christmas cakes are having a tremendous sale this year. All first-class grocers keep them.’ [3]
During December 1899 The Sydney Morning Herald reported that ‘Just now there is naturally an extra heavy demand for Mr Arnott’s Christmas cakes and it is no wonder, for they are of a quality that the cleverest little housewife could not attempt to rival.’[4]
‘The big factory in Melville Street is a scene of wonderful activity, the output of cakes increasing by leaps and bounds each year.’[5]
The Evening News of 15 December 1906 commented that ‘special arrangements have to be made for the distribution of Arnott’s Christmas cakes which, like the biscuits, have made a reputation for excellence and purity.’[6]
By 1908 Arnott’s had opened its Homebush factory although The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA) noted that: ‘Attention is called to Arnott’s Christmas cakes, which are made by Messrs. William Arnott of Newcastle, in the same factory as the famous Arnott’s milk arrowroot biscuits are produced. The cakes are fully up to the usual standard, each one being packed in a box, and at this time of the year there should be a ready sale.’[7]
The cakes continued to be made in Newcastle for some time. In 1920: ‘Just at this time of the year there is ever a great activity at Arnott’s Newcastle factory, for it is there that the Christmas cakes are made. Always eagerly sought after, an unprecedented demand for this line has set in this year.’[8] Cakes were sold in several different sizes during the earlier years but The Sun of 30 September 1924 noted that the Christmas cakes would be sold in just 3lb tins that year.[9]
‘Nothing is more associated in the mind of the public with the approaching festive season more than the idea of something palatable, and this desire is catered for in the fine display of Arnott’s biscuits and Christmas cakes now to be seen in all the grocer’s shops in the city.’[10]
The Australian Woman's Mirror Vol.5 No.1, 27 November 1928
The Australian Woman's Mirror 15 December 1931
By 1933 Christmas plum puddings were also advertised ‘in various sizes that range from ½ lb to 3 lb, packed neatly in glass containers through which you can see the rich ingredients that have gone into the making.’[11]
Arnott’s knew how to advertise but their products were often also promoted through articles and reviews. In Narrabri for example, where Christmas is particularly hot, ‘Arnott’s Christmas cakes and puddings bought ready made will save the cook a lot of trouble on a hot summer’s day.’[12]
In 1935 rural journalists were invited to tour the Homebush factory – ‘The pressmen found the staff in the department where the Christmas cakes and puddings are made very busily engaged executing orders for the Christmas trade, Due to the excellence of the goods, Arnott’s have built up a large trade in this department.’[13]
‘We could not guess how many pounds of the excellent biscuits were eaten during the round, but we do know that everyone – that is without one exception – was delighted with the taste and appearance of the Xmas cakes that were then being prepared by the thousand, and the many ladies present were unanimous in voicing the fact that it is cheaper, all things considered, to buy one of these ready-made cakes than make one at home.’[14]
Incredibly, the piping on top of the cakes was all done by hand![15]
Australian Women's Weekly 2 December 1939
Arnott’s Christmas puddings in glass bowls were still being advertised in 1 and 2lb sizes in 1941.[16] However, Arnott's had contributed to the war effort by producing rations for the military, seriously depleting its range of biscuits. By war's end only 19 varieties of biscuit were being produced as compared with the 121 individual biscuit types manufactured in 1939.[17]
Australian Women's Weekly 5 December 1956 p.56
Arnott's Christmas cake tin. Courtesy Strathfield Local Studies
Post-war, Arnott’s formed associations with other Australian biscuit makers and in 1958 the Australian Biscuit Company was formed.[18] Among the other businesses was Mills & Ware of Western Australia. Arnott’s became their major shareholder in 1973 when their name changed to Arnott, Mills & Ware.
Arnott’s continued to advertise with colour advertisements in popular magazines and through newspapers. Arnott's Christmas cakes were still being advertised in the Australian Women's Weekly of 1980, as were plum puddings by Arnott, Mills & Ware.[19]
Merry Christmas to all!
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser 8 December 1885 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/62150639
[2] The Daily Telegraph 16 December 1893 p.10 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/236130544
[3] The Daily Telegraph 18 December 1894 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/236117644
[4] The Sydney Morning Herald 20 December 1899 p.4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14239666
[5] Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate 17 December 1900 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136236529
[6] Evening News 15 December 1906 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/115681798
[7] The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA) 17 December 1908 p.8 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5154130
[8] Sunday Times 19 December 1920 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120522780
[9] The Sun 30 September 1924 p.2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222317908
[10] The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld) 13 December 1924 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182724490
[11] Truth 10 December 1933 p.26 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169310877
[12] The North Western Courier 14 December 1933 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133266060
[13] Narrandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser 26 November 1935 p.1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/100738289
[14] Lachlander and Condobolin and Western Districts Recorder 13 November 1935 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214014407
[15] Boag, Charles The Story of Arnott’s Famous Biscuits: a history & a celebration. Sydney: Lansdowne Publishing Pty Ltd, 1993 p.91
[16] Papuan Courier (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea) 12 December 1941 p.10 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250519566
[17] Boag, Charles The Story of Arnott’s Famous Biscuits: a history & a celebration. Sydney: Lansdowne Publishing Pty Ltd, 1993 p.92