When you travel over Hamilton's Victoria Bridge, you will see on the left by the Waikato River the former Waikato Brewery - aka home of Mooloo beer and aerated soft drink. Diagonally opposite you'll see the The Meteor building where the soft drink operations were relocated in the mid-1950s. This story describes the Waikato Brewery's beginnings in Hamilton East in 1873; its eventual ownership in 1889 by Mary Jane Innes and her family;  its relocation to Hamilton West in 1897; and its operations until it closed in 1989. 

Mary Jane Innes (1852-1941) was inducted into the NZ Business Hall of Fame in 2013. She was recognised for her entrepreneurial and leadership skills in the brewing and aerated waters industry, which was seen at the turn of the 19th Century as being a "man's world".  Her business legacy continues today with the Innes companies that were sold on, operating as Lion Nathan Breweries and Oasis Industries, which is now part of Coca-Cola.  A bronze plaque and profile figurine of Mary Jane can be seen on the railings of the Victoria Bridge.   

We'll explore:

1.    Introduction to Mooloo beer & iconic Willie the waiter                                                                                                               
2.    Waikato Brewery: Timeline of owners
3.    Mary Jane Innes' family background 
4.    Charles Innes' soda & beer brewing background
5.    Te Awamutu Brewery financed by Mary Jane, 1875   
6.    Expansion to soda factory in Hamilton West which also bottled Te Awamutu beer,  July 1877   
7.    New beginnings: Waikato Brewery in Hamilton East: 1889 - 1897 
8.    Waikato Brewery relocated to soda factory in Hamilton West, 1897
9.    Charles Innes passes away (1899) & new family partnership formed - C.L. Innis & Co.
10.    Mary Jane moves to Auckland (1909) & gifts her shares in the company (1912) which expands operations
11.    Innes Industries Ltd formed in 1948 -  Innes soft drink & Waikato Breweries are separate companies 
12.    Mergers & changes in ownership, 1950s - 1970s
13.    Waikato Breweries officially closed, 1989  
14.    Commemorating Mary Jane and Charles Innes

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1. introduction to Mooloo BeEr & Iconic Willie the     Waiter

Since its founding in 1873, the Waikato Brewery has produced various brands of beer to celebrate the Waikato district and Mooloo rugby! Waikato Draught, a malty bitter ale, was first produced in 1925. The iconic drawing of Willie the waiter was created in 1945 by artist Dick Abnett who portrayed a  cartoon character not serving martinis but beer. Who was the inspiration for Willie?  Apparently he was modelled on a popular brewery employee, William T. Walter, who had distinctive features, including a prominent nose! (See Te Ara.) Initially, Willie the waiter appeared on bottle caps, beer bottle labels and coasters and, then, on other memorabilia. Willie also has his own Twitter account!

The new mascot of the Waikato rugby team "Mooloo" the cow, was chosen in a competition run by local company Booth and Chapman after Waikato won the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 1951. Waikato Breweries Ltd produced bottles of ‘Mooloo medicine’, and dispensed ‘Mooloo juice’ from a wooden trough mounted on the back of a ute with a fake cow in attendance. “Fine ales for friendly folk,” promised the advertisements.  

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2.  WAIKATO BREWERY: Timeline of owners

1873: established by Cumming

The Waikato Brewery was originally set up in 1873 by William Cumming, a member of the 4th Regiment, Waikato Militia. He had received a Crown grant of over one acre in Cook Street, Hamilton East near the Waikato River. Cumming decided to build a brewery as the land was near the Royal Hotel which he had purchased three years earlier. Advertisements started to appear in the Waikato Times under the name of 'Waikato Brewery' from October 1873. For detailed descriptions of the Brewery's operations, see the articles by  the Waikato Times reporter who visited on 31 Aug 1875 and the NZ Herald reporter on 21 June 1880.  

A search ofPapers Past, shows that Cumming promoted the Waikato Brewery, purchased hops grown by Māori, and made his machinery available to farmers for crushing oats and the grinding of bones for fertiliser! Cumming also provided the prizes for a swimming race on the Waikato River near the Brewery - first prize was a  5 gallon keg of beer. When the Beer Duty Act (1880) was introduced, Cumming shared his views in a letter to the editor of the Waikato Times (14 Sept 1880).  In a subsequent letter to the editor (12 May 1881) headed "The pleasures of brewing", Cumming details the financial records required and includes a description of the Brewery. Later in 1881, a penalty fine was given under the Beer Duty Act for not having revenue stamps affixed to casks. Following financial issues, Cumming filed for bankruptcy in 1883. (See NZ Herald, 24 Dec 1883 and the Waikato Times, 20 March 1884.)  

SEPT 1884 - 1887: NEW OWners - Charlotte Wilson & SOn Charles Barton 

After William Cumming became bankrupt, the new owner of the brewery property was Richard Knibb Davis, an Auckland accountant.  In September 1884, Davis sold the freehold land and buildings to Charlotte Wilson for  £250.  Charlotte and her son Charles John Wright Barton had formed the company C. J. W. Barton & Co.  The operation of the brewery was managed by Charles Barton (1852-1935) and Charlotte Wilson owned the land and buildings. 

Charlotte's first husband Charles John Wood Barton (1826-1851) had died soon after they were married in 1851.  After emigrating from England to NZ on the Northfleet  with her baby and her younger brother Henry Kinder, Charlotte arrived at Wellington in 1853 and settled in Auckland. She was joined two years later by her parents, sister and older brother the Rev John Kinder. Charlotte married her second husband, Major Thomas Wilson of the 3rd Regiment, Waikato Militia, in 1864.  

Thomas, Charlotte and her son began living in Cambridge in September 1864 as General Galloway “wished to see men getting their families there and he thought the example would have a good effect”.  Her son Charles was appointed an ensign in the Auckland Militia in 1869.  For their military services,  Thomas was allotted land near Cambridge and Charles received a grant of 79 acres at Te Kōwhai adjoining land granted to his stepfather.  (Source: Cambridge Museum: Cambridge people).

After Thomas died in 1883, Charlotte and her son sold most of their farm holdings and entered into a business partnership with the acquiring of the Waikato Brewery in September 1884.  

The NZ Herald reported on 22 Nov 1884 that the Waikato Brewery had reopened after being closed for a year, and "the first brew under the management of the new proprietors, Messrs. Henry Edgecumbe and Barton, was made yesterday".

Charles Barton left the Waikato Brewery in 1887 to manage the Commercial Hotel (Victoria St, Hamilton) which he had purchased in May 1885. Barton became increasingly involved in local government politics and was  elected to the Borough Council in 1886. He had two periods as Mayor (1887 & 1903); worked as the Town Clerk  for thirteen years from 1889, and was on various Borough Council committees.  Barton resigned in 1933 when he was 81 and he passed away on 4 March 1935.  

Source:  E. R. Doolin. 'Barton, Charles John Wright', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1996. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3b14/barton-charles-john-wright  

1887-1889: Brewery operations leased to Pascoe 

After Charles Barton left the Waikato Brewery in 1887 to manage his Commercial Hotel,  Samuel  Pascoe took over the lease of the Waikato Brewery’s operations from May 1887. The land and buildings continued to be owned by Charlotte Wilson. 

Samuel Pascoe had emigrated from Belfast on the ship Carisbrook Castle with Vesey Stewart's special Katikati Settlement party. After several years residing in Katikati, he moved to Hamilton. Various newspaper advertisements promoted the Waikato Brewery and Pascoe's Sparkling XXX Ale, together with testimonial as to its medicinal value. Pascoe left the Brewery in 1889 to take on the Royal Hotel at Onehunga until he passed away in 1909 aged 57 years. (See Waikato Times, 23 March, 1889 and NZ Herald, 7 May 1909). 

1889 -1897: New lessee - Mary Jane Innes & Family

The lease of the Waikato Brewery operations was purchased by Mary Jane Innes in Nov 1889 and the land and title in Hamilton East continued to be held by Charlotte Wilson, mother of Charles Barton. Following the death of Charlotte in May 1891, the title to the land and buildings was passed to Marion, the wife of her son. 

1897-1989: shifted Brewery to Hamilton West: 1897-1989

Following a fire in the brewery building in April 1897, the Innes family shifted operations to Hamilton West to premises they had purchased.  Throughout the years, the Innes family expanded their business operations outside Hamilton and entered into various partnerships until the Hamilton West building closed in 1989.   

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3.  Mary Jane Innes' Family background

Mary Jane Lewis was born in Llanvaches, Monmouthshire, Wales on 18 April 1852 to Hannah and Thomas Lewis. She had an older brother Thomas Morgan (born 1847) and an older sister Hannah Nancy who was known as Annie (born 1850). Their parents died when Mary Jane was a young child - her mother in 1858 and her father two years later. The family farm of 100 acres and several cottages at Caldicot had been run in trust until Thomas was old enough at age 21 years to inherit and sell. Thomas had been made chief beneficiary of his father's will and sisters Annie and Mary Jane were to receive  £150 each on reaching the age of 21 years.

Emigrated to NZ in 1870

In 1870, Thomas sold the estate at Millbrook and the cottages at Caldicot. Using their inheritance, Thomas and his sisters decided to immigrate to NZ.  After Thomas married Temperance May (known as Polly)  Williams on 11 July 1870, the wedding party headed to London.  Thomas and his wife and his sisters Annie and Mary Jane boarded the ship Asterope and set sail for NZ on 19 July 1870.

Settled in Ngāruawāhia & married Charles Innes 

After arriving in Auckland on 28 October 1870, the Lewis family settled in Ngāruawāhia.

Sister Annie married Charles Limmer, a member of the Armed Constabulary, in 1873.  Charles had been stationed at Pirongia and they moved to Auckland where he joined the police force at Papakura. Annie and Charles had two children -  Annie Sarah (1875) and Charles Lewis (1877) - before Annie  passed away in 1878 from acute pneumonia. 

Mary Jane married Charles Innes on 30 April 1874. Charles was a Scotsman who'd arrived in Auckland in 1864 and settled in Ngāruawāhia.  

Brother Thomas and  Polly moved near Ōpōtiki to take up farming and raised a family of five children. 

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 4. CHARLES Innes' soda & BREWING BACKGROUND

An overview of  Charles Innes involvement in the brewing industry was given by the Waikato Times (2 Aug 1899) following Charles' death on 31 July 1899: 

Charles Innes was a "Waikato settler, having come to the district in 1864, and shortly afterwards had a contract to build the Waikato Hospital at Hamilton, which was subsequently used as the constabulary barracks and is the police station at the present time.  On the completion of his contract he commenced business at Ngaruawahia as a soda water and lomonade manufacturer. When the Thames goldfield opened in 1868 he started a similar business there. In 1869 or 1870 he built a brewery at Alexandra and purchased the steamor Gymnotus, which he ran for some time. In 1871 he took over the brewery at Ngaruawahia and built a large malthouse.  He subsequently carried on the business of brewer and cordial manufacturer at the old brewery at Hamilton East. This was burned down about two years back. The deceased then erected the premises on the west side of the Hamilton Bridge, in which he has since conducted his old business. " 

1864: CHARLES BEGAN MAKING GINGER BEER IN           NGĀRUĀWAHIA

Charles started his ginger beer business in Ngāruāwahia in 1864, according to the following statement he made when appearing before the Supreme Court on 7 May 1869 during a bankruptcy hearing: "I commenced business at Ngaruawahia in 1864, as a ginger-beer manufacturer. I then had about £400.  I continued in that trade till April, 1868, when I commenced the trade of brewing."   He sold his ginger beer and other cordials to the locals and to the Waikato militia who had arrived on 8 December 1863 to establish a military base.

During the 1860s, Parliamentary Papers and newspaper articles show that Ngāruāwahia went through changes in the town's name - from Ngāruawāhia to 'Queenstown' on 6 July 1864 when Government-surveyed land was announced for sale; to Newcastle & Ngāruāwahia being used simultaneously from mid-1860s; and back to Ngāruāwahia by 1870s.

1866 - 1867: Opened Brewery at Alexandra (Pirongia)

In 1866, Charles purchased three separate farm lots totalling 150 acres near Harapepe. and two acres at Alexandra (Pirongia). An item in the Pirongia Heritage & Information Centre Newsletter ( No. 59, June, 2020, p.2) reports that the sections in Alexandra were purchased in May 1866 to build a brewery. Charles had invested his income from his soda factory at Ngāruāwahia and taken out mortgages on his land with solicitor Thomas Weston and Auckland brewers R. Whitson & Co. for  £647 at 12% interest per annum.  Items in the Daily Southern Cross newspaper announced  that by August 1866, a “large, substantial and well-constructed building” had been completed, and was in production by the beginning of September. The Alexandra Brewery was operated by Charles in partnership with James Morton and traded under the name of C. Innes & Co. 

The Pirongia Newsletter also stated:  "Recent investigations in the Archives New Zealand Deeds Index has revealed the locations of the two town sections purchased by Charles Innes in 1866 for the Alexandra Brewery. They were lots 84 and 86, located on what is now the paper road extension of Bellot Street, between Parry Street and the river. They lay between Lot 82, where Finch’s original Alexandra Hotel opened in July 1865, and the river. Nothing has been discovered about the fate of the brewery building which an 1871 photograph indicates appears to have been demolished by that time. Miss Miller’s house, Sedgemoor, now renamed The Maples, stands on the site of the original Alexandra Hotel, and Lots 84 and 86 became parts of her estate which, until 1930, included all the land across to Baffin Street ." 

1867:  purchased 'GYMNOTUS ELECTRICUS' STEAMER 

In 1867, Charles purchased the 30 foot steamer, Gymnotus Electricus, the first screw-propelled vessel on the Waikato River. The steamer was built in Birmingham in 1862 by Richard Back and shipped in sections to Auckland in 1863 for reassembly.  After being used on the Waitemata Harbour, it was sold in February 1864 to Ralph Simpson of Otahuhu who used it on the Waikato River transporting commissariat stores to military garrisons during the Land Wars. 

The Daily Southern Cross reported (5 March 1867) the steamer was sold to Mr. W. J. Hurst (Auckland), and then reported (8 April 1867) that the steamer had again changed owners with Charles Innes the new owner.  Subsequent advertisements of the steamer's schedule list three agents: Charles Innes (Ngaruawahia), W.J. Hurst & Co. (Auckland), and J.T Sellers (Mercer).  The steamer was used on the Waipa River between Ngāruāwahia - Whatawhata - Alexandra, and on the Waikato River between Mercer -  Ngāruāwahia - Hamilton - Cambridge.  

Newspapers reported the steamer had sunk in ten feet of water near Tuakau on Tuesday 7 May 1867.   In a letter to the Editor of the Daily Southern Cross (published 21 May 1867), Charles Innes objected to the Correspondent's comment  about the crew being incompetent, which drew a response from the Correspondent (published 31 May 1867).   As advertisements continued to advertise the availability of the Gymnotus, it would appear the steamer was able to be salvaged and continued to operate. When appearing before the Supreme Court  on 7 May 1869 at a bankruptcy hearing, Charles had stated, " I also had heavy losses with the steamer 'Gymnotus ' in 1867 and 1868."

may 1867: Alexandra Brewery partnership dissolved

The Daily Southern Cross newspaper announced that the partnership between Charles Innes and James Morton, brewers and soda water manufacturers of Alexandra, trading as C. Innes & Co, had been dissolved on 8 May 1867.   

 NOTICE is hereby given that the PARTNERSHIP hitherto subsisting between the undersigned in the business of Brewers and Soda Water Manufacturers, at Alexandra, Waikato, earned on under the style of 0. INNES & CO., is This Day DISSOLVED by mutual consent. Dated, at Auckland, this 8th day of May, 1867. JAMES MORTON, CHARLES INNES. Witness : Tnos. T. Weston, Solicitor, Auckland.  

Source: Papers Past: Daily Southern Cross, Vol XXIII, Issue 3053, 9 May 1867, p.1)

April 1868: starts brewing beer at ngāruāwahia

Charles had continued to manufacture ginger beer at Ngāruāwahia until April 1868, when he also commenced the trade of brewing.  His soda water factory and brewery were on the banks of the Waikato River near the Delta Hotel on the corner of the Great South Road and Market Street.  

1869: CHARLES DISCHARGED FROM BANKRUPTCY

After the dissolving of the partnership in the Alexandra Brewery, Charles found himself in financial difficulties. He had taken out mortgages on his land at Alexandra and Harepepe with solicitor Thomas Weston and Auckland brewers R. Whitson & Co. When Charles was unable to repay the loans, the ownership of the properties were transferred to them which they sold in partial fulfilment of his debt in March 1869.

On 7 May 1869, Charles appeared before the Supreme Court on a bankruptcy hearing due to his financial liabilities being £1,000 and his assets £604.3s. He outlined how his financial predicament had arisen:

" At that time different parties were owing me money, perhaps about  £300. A great many parties owing me money became insolvent, and I lost through that. McCowan owed me money, but I gave him a discharge on his assigning me over his public-house.  Fergusson then went in the house, and got into my debt still further. I lost fully £150 by this house, or rather by the tenants. My schedule does contain a full and complete statement of the moneys owing to me, so far as I know. the profits of my brewery were not very large. Brewery operations may pay in town, but they won't in the country. Mr.  Weston, the solicitor, was a creditor in my estate. I owe Mr. Weston about £150, and I believe he sold part of  that property to clear that debt. That debt was incurred principally for law expenses. There were two mortgages in favour of  Mr Weston — at least I believe so. The first mortgage was for about  £100 and the second was about £50. I was not paying 50 per cent interest. I received an account of the law expenses. I executed the last mortgage to Weston in March, 1868, and not within three months of filing my declaration of insolvency. Whitson's debt was incurred for brewery materials. There was no cash that I am aware of." Re-examined by Mr. Brookfield : "I lost considerable sums by my business. I did not value the buildings in my assets at half what they had cost me. I also had heavy losses with the steamer 'Gymnotus' in 1867 and 1868." 

After being discharged from bankruptcy, Charles was permitted to re-engage in business.    

1869 - 1873: Expanded NGĀRUĀWAHIA BREWERY

During 1869, Charles focused on his soda factory and brewery at Ngāruāwahia. As his financial situation improved, in 1871 he erected a large malting kiln for over £1600 on an adjacent section to the Brewery. Newspaper advertisements encouraged local farmers to grow barley for malting (see Waikato Times 29 Aug 1872 and 10 Oct 1872).  Charles also became chairman of the Town Board in 1871. 

On 31 January 1872, Charles purchased two freehold sections that had been Crown grants to William Young and Benjamin Turner. He used the land titles to arrange a mortgage the following day for £600 with Henry Flockhard Christie in Auckland. A further mortgage was arranged with Franz Scherff, an Auckland merchant, in May 1873. The funds were used to further develop Charles' brewery and malting business. 

A description of the Ngāruawāhia Brewery is given in the Auckland Star (17 March 1873): "A prominent building in the main street is the brewery of Mr Innes. In size it seems out of all proportion with the township, and evidently contemplates the whole trade of the Waikato... His beer is about the most delicious that we have tasted in the colony..."

 In an 1873 advertisement, Charles described his business:

                                                                                            CHARLES INNES 

                                                                    MALTSTER, ALE AND PORTER BREWER, 

                                                  Aerated Water and Cordial Manufacturer, Ngaruawahia, Waikato.

1874: Charles & Mary Jane marry

Mary Jane and Charles became married at St. Andrew's manse in Auckland on 30 April 1874 and the first of their ten children, Annie Eveline, was born the following year.   

1875: CHARLES BECOMES BANKRUPT

On 21 January 1875, Henry Christie transferred his deed of mortgage to Auckland accountant John Mowbray - the  £600 principal and £45 interest was still owing and due to be paid by Charles. When Mowbray foreclosed on 19 July 1875, Charles lost ownership of the Ngāruāwahia Brewery. Mowbray sold the property, plant and machinery to Robert Whitson & Sons who were brewers in Auckland. Three years later, the new owners sold the business to their manager, George F. Dickeson, and the Ngāruawāhia Brewery continued operating until it eventually closed in 1909.   

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5. Te Awamutu Brewery financed by mary jane, 1875  

The Innes family moved to Te Awamutu where Mary Jane used her inheritance from her parents' farm to finance Charles into another brewery. 

A Crown grant had been made to Charles in Te Awamutu on 15 August 1874 for which he paid  £15. The land comprised two lots totalling one quarter acre on Sloane Street. Charles transferred the title five months later to Mary Jane's brother Thomas for the same sum of money. Then the property was transferred into Mary Jane's name on 28 August 1875, for which she paid £20 and was required to have her husband Charles' written consent to be a landowner. 

In 1877, a mortgage of £400 was raised by M. J. Innes with William Patrick Whyte of Glasgow in Scotland for the building of the brewery.  The family then bought their house on the corner of Sloane Street and Park Road, which was almost opposite the brewery. Mary Jane took out a second mortgage for £130 and paid £60 for the house, which required her husband's written consent.

Descriptions of the Te Awamutu Brewery and advertisements appeared in the newspapers, including the Waikato Times, 16 Aug 1881.  

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6. EXPANSION TO soda water Factory in hamilton west     which also bottled Te Awamutu beer, JULY 1877  

On 13 July 1877, Charles Innes purchased from Joshua Thomas Johns the Waikato Aerated Soda Water Factory in Hamilton West for 400 pounds. The factory was sited on the corner of Tisdall and Richmond Street (later renamed Bridge Street; then Anzac Parade). Johns had bought a lemonade and cordial plant from Ngāruawāhia in 1876 and re-erected it on the site. 

Charles Innes upgraded the Factory's machinery and, as well as producing soft drink, also transported beer from their Te Awamutu Brewery to bottle and sell in Hamilton (see Waikato Times article, 28 Aug 1877). In effect, he was in competition with William Cumming's Waikato Brewery in Hamilton East which had been established in 1873.

1881:  Bottling operations opened in hamilton & rail          transport used

Following the opening of the Auckland railway line to Frankton in December 1877, the line was extended to Te Awamutu by 1880. As construction of the Main Trunk railway line south of Te Awamutu was delayed for five years due to an economic downturn, Te Awamutu became the railhead for the loading and offloading of passengers and goods. The railroad enable the ease of transporting of bottled ale, leading to the opening of a bottling plant in Hamilton and the appointing of an agent. 

The Waikato Times reported on 20 Aug 1881:

 "Mr Chas. Innes advertises that owing to the increasing demand for his ales and porter, he has decided to open a bottling establishment in the premises lately occupied by Messrs Walnutt and Sherriffs, Hamilton, where, in addition to his own ale, he will have a regular supply of Dunedin ale specially brewed. Mr K. Land is the Hamilton agent."   

1888: Charles bankrupt; Mary Jane takes over                 Te Awamutu Brewery

Mary Jane's husband Charles ran into financial difficulties again and was declared bankrupt in 1888.  On 11 October 1888, the NZ Herald’s ‘Debtors’ Examinations’ column revealed that Charles had received a batch of bad malt, and the loss of custom combined with the Brewery operating largely on credit meant he could no longer service his debts. 

Mary Jane took over announcing by public post in December 1888 that M. J. Innes would be managing the Te Awamutu Brewery: 

“The undersigned has now opened the above brewery, on her own account, and begs to call the public attention to her special Christmas brew of ale and stout in draught or bottle. Orders from families and others promptly attended to. M. J. Innes. December 17th 1888.”  (See Waikato Times, 20 Dec 1888). 

The business was later sold by Mary Jane on 12 Dec 1895 so that she could focus on the Waikato Brewery in Hamilton East for which she had purchased the lease in 1889.   

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7.  New Beginnings: Waikato Brewery in HAMILTON EAST:      1889 - 1897

Mary Jane purchased the lease for the Waikato Brewery operations in Hamilton East in November 1889. The land and buildings in Hamilton East were owned since September 1884 by Charlotte Wilson, mother of the brewery's former operator Charles Barton. Following the death of Charlotte in May 1891, the title to the land and buildings was passed to her son's wife Marion Barton. 

The Innes family shifted from Te Awamutu to Hamilton. They still retained the Waikato Aerated Soda Water Factory they had purchased in 1877 on the western side of the Waikato River at the corner of Tisdall and Richmond Street (now called Anzac Parade). 

Although Mary Jane was running the Waikato Brewery in Hamilton East, the company's advertising simply said "M J Innes, Proprietor" - no "Mrs" or "Proprietress" which indicates attitudes to women as owners at the time. A copy of a document from an early 20th century statutory meeting of the company, shows that while several of her sons are listed, Mary Jane does not get a mention. (See  Stuff.co article Female entrepreneur in a man's world.)

Mary Jane's husband continued to be involved in the brewing operations which was not without its hazards, as reported in the Waikato Times, 5 Dec 1891: "Mr C. Innes, proprietor of the Waikato Brewery at Hamilton East, met with a nasty accident on Thursday. He was engaged bottling lemonade, when a bottle burst, the nock part inflicting a nasty cut on the lower aspect of the left wrist, severing the ulnia artery. Dr. Kenny bound up the wound, and we hope Mr Innes will be able to resume work in a few days." 

During 1893, their eldest daughter Annie Eveline died of lung congestion, aged 18 years.

Advertisements appeared promoting the Waikato Brewery's "Ale and Porter of first class quality, second to none in the market" (Waikato Times, 24 April 1890) and "Ale and stout for Christmas are now ready" (Waikato Times, 23 Dec 1893).  The newspapers reported on court case hearings over stamp duties for kegs of beer (see The Thames Advertiser, 12 Jan 1895). 

1895: Te Awamutu brewery closed

The Te Awamutu Brewery and the Innes' house was sold by Mary Jane on 12 December 1895 so that she could focus on the Waikato Brewery in Hamilton East.  The new owner was the former mortgage holder William Whyte of Glasgow, Scotland who bought the brewery for £400 and the house and section for  £130.

1896: BRANCH OPENED IN PAEROA

An advertisement in the Ohinemutu Gazette (9 January 1897) proclaimed that "M. J. Innes, Ale and Porter Brewer, Lemonade, Ginger Ale, and Cordial Manufacturer, Hamilton, has started a Branch in Paeroa, and solicits a "share" of the patronage of residents'of Paeroa and surrounding districts. Bottled Ale and Stout a Speciality, All orders addressed to C. L. Innes, Commercial Hotel, Paeroa, will be promptly attended to."  

Fire at WAIKATO BREWERY in Hamilton eAst, April 1897

There was an outbreak of fire at the Waikato Brewery's Hamilton East premises in April 1897. As the plant occupied several small buildings, it was possible to confine the fire to the brewery, which was extensively damaged, and save the aerated water section. 

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8.  WAIKATO BREWERY relocated to Soda Factory in       hamilton west, 1897 

Mary Jane and Charles Innes decided to shift the operation of the Waikato Brewery across river to their Waikato aerated sodawater factory on the corner of Tisdall Street and Richmond Street (now Anzac Parade), which they had purchased in 1877 when living in Te Awamutu.  

An advertisement dated 15 April stated that the business would continue under the name of "Waikato Brewery and Aerated Water Works" (see Argus 22 April 1897). Building alterations were carried out  (see Auckland Star, 5 May 1897) and the business reopened in 1898. 

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9. Charles Innes passes away (1899) & new family     partnership formed - C.L. INNES & CO

In July 1899 Mary Jane's husband died in his 75th year of suspected heart failure by natural causes whilst either cleaning out or taking a bath in a vat at the brewery (see Waikato Times report).  He was buried in the Hamilton East cemetery.

New family partnership & name - C.L. Innes & Co: 1900

Following her husband's death, Mary Jane arranged a series of loans and used her own funds to pay off some of his debts. Her eldest son Charles Lewis, aged 22,  was an apprentice brewer at the Great Northern Brewery in Kyhber Pass, Auckland. He entered into a deed of partnership with Mary Jane on 1 November 1900. A new company was established - C.L. Innes & Co., Brewers and Aerated Water Manufacturers, Waikato Brewery, Hamilton.  

NEW INNES Family home In HAMILTON: 1902

After obtaining the Waikato Brewery, in 1902 Mary Jane and her family moved into 8 Tisdall Street, which had been purchased by her eldest son Charles. In Nov 1905 his brother Frank became a joint owner of the house.  

Newspapers reported on business operations

In 1902, a newspaper reporter  with "...a pressman's characteristic thirst for information and—refreshment, visited the Waikato Brewery, Hamilton,  in order to investigate into the truth of certain complimentary remarks made about the special Christmas brew..." and gave a very favourable review  (see Waikato Times, 16 Dec 1902).

The newspapers also reported on when inspections under the new Licensing Act were carried out on stamp duties and on dealing in liquor in the prohibited area of the King Country.      

New Innes family partnershipS: 1905 & 1912

In 1905, Mary Jane's younger son Frank also joined the business partnership with older son Charles and herself. 

When Charles married Florence Gillander on 20 March 1907, the Waikato Times reported that the staff gave a "handsome dinner service" as a wedding gift and the honeymoon took place in NZ and Australia.  

Firm becomes a limited liability company, 1907

From 14 August 1907, the firm's structure was changed from a private company into a limited liability company.  There were seven charter members holding one share each, including Mary Jane Innes and her daughter-in-law Florence. Shares were issued and the general public became investors. 

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10. MARY JANE MOVEs TO AUCKLAND (19o8) & gifts shares      in company (1912) which expands its operations

Mary Jane gifts her shares in the company (1912) 

Frank Innes sole owner after Brother charles dies: 1918

Mary Jane's son Charles passed away during the influenza epidemic (Nov 1918) in his 42nd year and was buried at Warkworth. The stone archway at the entrance to the Ferry Bank Reserve, which is opposite to the Brewery, was erected in 1924 in his memory. An article in the Auckland Star (24 Dec 1924) mentions the completion of the "massive stone arch and steps" by the Hamilton Beautifying Society. The Innes Memorial Shield for Waikato Rugby League football was also given as a trophy (see Waikato Times article, 3 Aug 1920).  

Frank managed both the brewery and soft drink operations. The ongoing popularity of beer sales led to this Public Notice in the King Country Chronicle (2 Dec 1920): "Customers are requested to return all our empty branded kegs, soon as possible, as they are urgently required for Christmas trade".  Newspaper advertisements continued to promote "Peerless Ale and Stout: pure & wholesome tonics" (Waikato Times, 15 Nov 1921).        

BRANCHES SET UP & Head Office Shifted to Newmarket

Growing demand led C.L. Innes & Co. Ltd to expand its operations for the production of aerated waters and hop beer outside Hamilton. (See NZ Herald, 7 July 1910). 

• Taumarunui: A branch was set up in 1908 at Taumarunui in Morero Terrace; then five years later they took over the premises previously occupied by A. Hyde in Huia St.  Harry Innes was the first manager.
• Waihi:  Harry left Taumarunui in 1910 to open a new branch in Waihi.  Later managers were Peter McKinnon and Alf Smith (see Kiwiiconz). 
• Te Aroha:  In 1920, Charles Innes purchased the lease for the Te Aroha Mineral Water Co and started marketing "Wai Aroha Mineral Water & Lemon" (see Auckland Star, 25 May 1923).  From 1935 CL Innes changed the label back to "Lemon & Te Aroha".  
• Head Office: During the 1920s the head office was shifted from Hamilton to Newmarket, Auckland. 

Transport developments

Horse-drawn carts were used until motorised vehicles were introduced. The  Waikato Argus (28 Nov 1900) reported, "A mild sensation was caused in Victoria Street, Hamilton, this morning, when Messrs C L. Innes and Coy's horse attached to a spring cart bolted down the main street. The animal rushed through the street and down past the brewery, where it was brought up, and the only damage done was the breaking of a few bottles of aerated waters".    

New machinery introduced

New machinery was introduced including: 26 b.h.p. "National" gas engine and producer plant, Linde freezer, Crown corking machine, bottle washing machine, and an electric power and ice-making plant to keep the stock at a uniform temperature (see Poverty Bay Herald on 13 April 1912 and  NZ Herald on 1 June 1915 & 15 Nov 1921).  The latest Shield's aerating bottling machine — the first in New Zealand — was also installed at Hamilton to enable a more uniform brand of aerated water to be manufactured. It filled and crowned a bottle with one operation, enabling two men to do what in the past four men had to do, thus reducing labour costs. To increase the supply of artesian water for the brewing of beer, an electrically-driven pump was installed at a spring in Hamilton East and pipes were laid across the Traffic Bridge. (See  Matamata Record, 29 Oct 1923)

New Front BUILDING to Waikato Brewery: 1930

A new building to front the C.L. Innes & Co brewery and bottling operations in Hamilton was built by Frank Innes (Managing Director) which opened in September 1930. The staff included Ernie Tisch (factory manager) and Albert Kelly (brewer). During 1932, Frank's younger son Jack L. Innes  joined the firm in a junior role.

DEPRESSION YEARS, WWII AND BREWERY PROFITS

The effects of the Great Depression in the 1930s were felt and the same pattern of producing Peerless Ale, Stout and a range of aerated waters was retained. It was not until the latter 1930s that changes were introduced with new advertisements beginning to appear in the Waikato Independent for the bottled beer 'Waikato Ale Special Brew' (9 Dec 1939) and 'Special draught beer' (14 Dec 1939). The rise and fall of the Brewery's sharemarket dividends were reported on in the newspapers.  

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11. Mary Jane Innes passes aWay (1941) & Innes      industries formed (1948)

 Mary Jane lived in Auckland to the age of 89. She was buried in November 1941 beside her husband in the Hamilton East cemetery.  

Innes Industries Ltd formed in 1948 

After the War years, the Brewery had a resurgence in profits following the appointment of an industrial chemist, Len J. Eriksen, from 1947 to the late 1970s. The Brewery adopted new methods and modern brewing equipment. Frank Innes' other son, Harold, also joined the company as sales manager. Hence, Mary Jane's son Frank and his two sons, Jack and Harold, carried on the Innes family tradition of operating the business.  

The C. L. Innes & Co. Ltd brewing and soft drink operations was restructured in 1948 to form Innes Industries Ltd. This meant C.L. Innes & Co. Ltd ceased to exist and was split into two independent companies - the newly named Waikato Breweries Ltd and the soft drink operations. 

INNES SOFT DRINK & WAIKATO BREWERIES LTD in SEPARATE buildings 

The two companies were physically separated into different buildings. The Innes soft drink factory was built diagonally opposite the Brewery on the corner of Anzac Parade and Victoria Street in Hamilton during the 1950s. The new factory was thought to have been designed by White, Leigh & de Lislem in 1954 or by modernist architect Henry Kulka in 1955 (see Waikato Times, 9 Dec 2016). The building is currently known as The Meteor.

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12. MERGERs & changes in ownership, 1950s - 1970s 

1951: Waikato Breweries + L.D. Nathan =  Consolidated Hotels Ltd.

The separation of Waikato Breweries Ltd as a stand alone company under Innes Industries Ltd opened the way for an amalgamation with other brewery firms.  In 1951, Waikato Breweries Ltd. and L.D. Nathan & Co. Ltd. merged to form Consolidated Hotels Ltd. This merger provided Waikato Breweries Ltd with direct access to 12 hotels as outlets for its products.

1956: soda Branch opened in Whakatāne

In 1956, C.L. Innes Ltd. took over the ownership of a soda and aerated waters factory in Whakatāne which was originally built in 1919, The factory, which was sited at 12 Wairere Street and used water from the Wairere Falls, later came under the ownership of Innes Tartan in 1975. The building then became a knitwear factory owned Mac Nit Ltd.  (See description and photo in Whakatāne Built Heritage Study Part Two, Issue 3, Nov 2007, p.108. 

1960s: Merger between INNES INDUSTRIES LTD & NEW ZEALAND BREWERIES LTD

The 1960s saw staffing changes. In 1961, Frank Innes passed away. His son Harold became senior director of Innes Industries and moved to Auckland. The following year in 1962, Frank's other son Jack retired from the Board of Waikato Breweries Ltd and was replaced by G. Reid who was the managing director of New Zealand Breweries Ltd, Wellington. That same year, New Zealand Breweries Ltd (later to become Lion Breweries; then Lion Nathan) bought Innes Industries Ltd’s shares in Waikato Breweries Ltd and Consolidated Hotels. In 1968, Harold went to London and successfully negotiated the franchise to produce Bass beer in New Zealand. He then converted the Albion Hotel in Auckland into a replica of an English pub. (See Te Ara.)  

Behind the scenes - machinery used

Marketing of Waikato Breweries, 1960s - 

1962: OASIS INDUSTRIES formed

In 1962, Innes Industries Ltd. amalgamated with L. D. Nathan and Oasis Industries Ltd was formed. Harold Innes who was the senior director of Innes Industries Ltd became the first managing director.  

1963: MERGER WITH L&P to form Innes Tartan ltd

In 1963, Innes Industries merged with Grey & Menzies Ltd which produced 'Lemon and Paeroa' (also known as L&P).  The new firm Innes Tartan Limited was formed.

L&P Timeline:

• 1907:   The soft drink (initially branded as 'Paeroa and Lemon')  was created by combining lemon juice with carbonated mineral water from Paeroa. 
• 1910:    L&P was first bottled by Robert Fewell's Paeroa Natural Mineral Water Company which was incorporated in March, 1910. 
• 1915:    Fewell sold his company to Grey & Menzies Ltd, an aerated water manufacturing company, which had formed in 1902 with the amalgamation of John              Grey and Son from Auckland (which had a branch in Coromandel) & Robert Menzies Ltd (whose headquarters were in Thames with branches in              Paeroa, Waihi & Te Aroha).  Additional bottling plants were opened in  Devonport, Whangarei and Hamilton. 
• 1912:    Grey and Menzies' Paeroa factory closed.  They continued to manufacture L&P from their Auckland factory, sending barrels of water by boat.
• 1926:    A new factory was built in Paeroa for aerated waters, and L&P continued to be bottled at Auckland.
• 1934:    L&P commenced production at the Paeroa factory.
• 1960:    New Zealand Breweries took over the business although it was still operated as Grey and Menzies Limited.                                                                        Later the Auckland firm, Schweppes Limited took over from New Zealand Breweries and formed a company named Contract Bottlers Limited. 
• 1963:    Innes Industries merger  led to  the new firm Innes Tartan Limited being formed. 

Source:   "History of Lemon and Paeroa". Positive Paeroa. 2011  

Innes Tartan motif on L&P

In 1963, following the forming of  Innes Tartan Limited, the Innes Tartan was adopted as the motif on the neck of the L&P bottle. The large L&P bottle was erected at the eastern entrance to Paeroa in 1967 and was painted in L&P colours the following year for the Christmas Parade. In 1969, Innes Tartan Limited, in a joint venture with the former Paeroa Borough Council, moved the bottle to its present site. The L&P bottle has appeared on a NZ postage stamp and become one of the most well-known and photographed icons in NZ by locals and overseas tourists.     

Changes in INNES Tartan ownership since late 1970s

Schweppes (NZ) Limited, another cordial manufacturer, became associated with Innes Tartan Limited to manufacture Lemon and Paeroa at its NZ factories. In the late 1970s, Innes Tartan and Schweppes were taken over by Oasis Industries. The Paeroa factory was closed by Oasis in July 1980 and the production moved to Auckland. Later on, Oasis was taken over by Coca-Cola Amatil in Auckland.  (See the following articles on the history of L&P:  Wikipedia,  Positive Paeroa,  and the L and P Story.)      

1973-75: Waikato Breweries' Fijian venture 

In  July 1973, a new branch. the South Seas Brewing Co. Ltd, was set up in Lautoka, Fiji under the management of Waikato Breweries Ltd. It was intended to be a joint venture with the Fijian Government initially, with public shares planned once it was fully established. However, delays in delivery and competition led to financial difficulties and it closed on 27 June 1975. The factory buildings were later taken over by Carlton United Brewery of Melbourne. 

1974: New Zealand Breweries Ltd outright owner

An end of an era took place in the early 1970s when the last of the Innes family left the company. Jack Innes had passed away in July 1973 and his brother Harold retired the following year. The total shareholding of Consolidated Hotels had been transferred to New Zealand Breweries Ltd in 1974 who became the outright owner. 

1987: Waikato draught production moved to Lion Breweries (now known as Lion Nathan)

The Waikato Brewery stayed open in Hamilton until the production of Waikato Draught was moved to the Lion Breweries in Newmarket, Auckland in 1987 (now known as Lion Nathan). 

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13.  WAIKATO BREWERY OFFICIALLY CLOSED, 1989 

The Waikato Brewery plant was officially closed in 1989.  Waikato Draught is still produced today since its beginnings in 1925 — with Lion Nathan continuing the legacy of Mary Jane and her family.  

The former Waikato Brewery building has been on the market a couple times (see Waikato Times, 27 Feb 2010) and one part is currently operating as a restaurant called Chim Choo Ree. The building has a Heritage B ranking (see Hamilton City Council:  Schedule 8A: Built Heritage (structures, buildings and associated sites): H48)

The former soft drinks building has been used as an indoor roller skating rink and a used car auction house. It is currently an indoor theatre - The Meteor - which underwent refurbishments following a funding campaign. 

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14. Commemorating MAry JAne and CHARLES Innes

Mary Jane lived until aged 89, dying in Auckland on 14 Nov 1941, and is buried beside her husband, Charles, and eldest child, Annie Eveline, in the Hamilton East cemetery.  (See listing  in Hamilton East Cemetery Heritage walkdigitised brochure.)  

Opening of Innes Common: 1960

In 1960 Frank Innes and his family dedicated the area west of Hamilton Lake in memory of their father and Mary Jane's husband Charles Innes senior. This once swampy area had been named “Innes Park” in 1956 and it officially became known as Innes Common in 1960.  

BRONZE PROFILE & PLAQUE, 2010

A commemorative plaque and bronze profile figurine of Mary Jane Innes has been erected on the railings of the Victoria Bridge.  The plaque was unveiled during the Victoria Bridge Centenary Celebrations held on Saturday 16 October 2010. Also unveiled was a plaque and bronze profile of Caesar Roose, who was a boat operator on the Waikato River in the early 1900s.  (Source: Rob Kidd, "Birthday bridge all lit up". Waikato Times, 18 October 2010) 

INNES48 BUSINESS STARTUP COMPETITION

Named after Mary Jane Innes, the Innes48 hours competition began in 2012 as an annual event based in Hamilton in March/April. It is managed by Wintec's Soda Inc which opened in 2009 on the mezzanine level of The Meteor theatre - the former building of the soda bottling factory - and then relocated to Wintec House in 2015.  National and international participants attend workshops with inspirational speakers on the process of transforming an idea into developing a business. Teams compete and the top six teams pitch their newly created business to a panel of judges and the audience to win either the Most Viable Business, Most Innovative and Best Pitch.  

See:  Soda Inc:  https://www.sodainc.com/about

NZ Business Hall of Fame: 2013 

Mary Jane Innes was inducted into the Fairfax Media New Zealand Business Hall of Fame on 31 July 2013.  This award was an acknowledgement of her entrepreneurial and leadership skills in what was at the time a "man's world" in the brewing industry, said Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker. (See NZHerald article.)  Also see video during the induction ceremony.

WAIKATO MUSEUM EXHIBITS

Part of the Waikato Museum's collection includes memorabilia such as beer bottles, soda siphons and drink flagon. In addition, news-clippings from Mary Jane's death, the death certificate of her husband Charles, architectural plans and photographs of the family are also held. (See Waikato Museum)  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

• Hamilton City Libraries' Heritage Collections 
• Waikato Museum
• Colin Innes, A crown for the lady: the unravelling of a pioneer story (Tauranga: Moana Press, 1989) 

(This DigitalNZ story was updated in April 2022)