William Bickford, born in 1795 in Devonshire, England, arrived in South Australia aboard the ship "Platina" in February 1839. Initially interested in pastoral pursuits, he turned to pharmacy due to high farming costs. Establishing one of Adelaide's earliest chemist shops on Hindley Street after importing supplies from England. Following a brief illness, William passed away on September 11, 1850, leaving behind his wife Anne Margaret Bickford (1811–1877) and four children. Anne managed the business until 1864 when her son Harry joined her, forming A.M. Bickford & Son. In 1872, William's eldest son, also named William (1841–1916), joined Harry, leading to the formation of A.M. Bickford & Sons. They expanded into cordial production, building a factory next to their residence on Waymouth Street in the same year, with H. Foureur joining to manage the aerated water factory in 1876. As their pharmacy business grew, they relocated to Currie Street and Light Square in 1879. This site operated until around 1928. By 1903, the firm became a limited company, and in 1930, it merged with interstate drug companies, forming Drug Houses of Australia. In 1999, the Kotses family acquired the company. In the early 2000s, they expanded the product line to include iced teas and milkshake mixes. In 2005, the company, now named "Bickford's Australia," relocated its cordial and soft drink operations to a new manufacturing facility in Salisbury, South Australia, marking a significant expansion in product offerings. In 2006, Bickford's lime juice cordial was recognized as a Heritage Icon by the National Trust of South Australia. Throughout the 21st century, the product range continued to grow, alongside the expansion of the Bickford's Group, which includes Vok, Wheel & Barrow, and Karma Living. In February 2014, Bickford's announced plans for a new distillery in the South Australian Riverland, emphasizing their strategy of rejuvenating neglected brands as a key to their success. In 2017 the company purchased Vale Ale and Foxhat Brewing, openeing a large cellar door in McLaren Vale for these brands in 2022.
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 Bickfords on Waymouth Street, Adelaide c1916 State Library Collection B 3528  Adelaide : Queen City of the South Page 107
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