William Bickford's shop in 1840 starts Adelaide family's national success with cordials, Sal Vital, Dexal et al
Bickford's lime juice cordial became one of the company's national brands.
William Bickford worked as a chemist’s assistant after arriving, aged 23, in Adelaide in 1839. Next year he opened his own shop in Hindley Street, near Rosina Street, with borrowed capital of £220. Its success allowed him to move to a bigger shop down the street.
Bickford had done well enough by 1846 to build a large house, later called “Benacre”, at Glen Osmond. But he died five years later, leaving his wife Anne pregnant and with four young children (William, Harry, Elizabeth, Edward) to care for.
Anne Bickford engaged qualified chemists Edwin Page and Robert Hutton to carry on the business for 14 years. Son Harry, now a qualified chemist, returned from England to join his mother in the business as Bickford and Son. Eldest son William in 1871 joined A.M. Bickford and Sons that that developed drugs and popular products such as Sal Vital, Dexal and Sopaderm. Large offices and a warehouse were built at 42-46 Currie Street (on the Leigh Street corner) as the company's headquarters from 1879.
From 1874, their South Australian Cordial Factory in Waymouth Street, Adelaie city, made cordials (including lime juice cordial and raspberry vinegar). An expanded factory had Monsieur H. Foureur in charge of aerated drinks.
With their mother's death in 1877, the two Bickford sons continued expanding the business, including a Perth branch and amalgamating with competition Felton Grimwade & Co. of Melbourne. In 1914, the Adelaide manufacturing laboratory moved to Waymouth Street alongside the cordial factory.
A major change for Bickford’s family identity came in 1930 when it combined with similar companies from all states, except Tasmania, to form a holding company, Drug Houses of Australia (DHA), with a capital of £5,000,000.
