General News
2 September, 2025
Bottle show’s 52nd event a big success
Maryborough was brimming with glass treasures all weekend as collectors and enthusiasts from across Australia descended on the 52nd Antique Bottle Show.
Drawing crowds and stalls lining the entirety of the Maryborough Harness Racing Club, Maryborough Antique Bottle Club member and event organiser Steve Greenwood was thrilled with this year’s turn out.
“Even when we set up on Friday, you couldn’t move. On the Saturday it was just mayhem. I’m pretty confident to say many hundreds of dollars have changed hands. Many hundreds,” he said.
A vast range of artifacts were on display including vintage tins, lead bottle seals, American and Canadian whiskey jugs, Chinese pottery from as early as 2180BC, scrimshaw and Phantom memorabilia, as well as many other collectables.
The buy, swap and sell also had numerous vintage glassware, statues and niche valuables for trading.
Among the many trophies awarded, the grand prize was given to a hot sauce, relish and chutney bottle display.
While the presentation was acknowledged, the value of the collection was also noted.
“There’s some great stuff here but this guy has won the best bottle collection. It’s the most eye appealing and there’s several bottles worth four or five thousand a piece. They are very rare hot sauce bottles,” Mr Greenwood said.
The trophy for best collectable was awarded to two rare money boxes from the 1840s.
“The two money boxes, they are extremely rare. They have survived the test of time, and they are very unique,” Mr Greenwood said.
For collectors and history enthusiasts, the show was a chance to see pieces that rarely leave private collections.
“There are some eucalyptus bottles from an actual factory behind the Maryborough station. Even same of the signs are worth a few grand,” Mr Greenwood said.
“The whiskey jugs are starting to make a move. They went out for a long time but they are starting to come out again. The lead seals may not be eye appealing, but there is history there.”
Mr Greenwood said this year’s show once again drew attendance and displays from all over Australia.
“Most people say this is, without a doubt, the best show in Victoria. A lot of them from New South Wales and Queensland even comment it is better than the shows up there,” he said.
“Two guys from South Australia said this show beats their national and their state shows. It is incredible. There are some really keen little budgies out there.”
