Turners Northam trade mark bottle

Turners Northam bottle in VGC

JAMES ALBERT TURNER was born in 1869 at Duckinfield, Cheshire, England. His father was a furnace man and when James reached the age of 21 his occupation was listed as cotton turner. While working in the cotton trade he met local girl MARTHA ARNOLD, a weaver and they married in 1892. By 1901 he had changed his occupation to hop beer manufacturer. Sometime between 1901 and early 1910 Turner and his wife arrived in WA where he was appointed brewery foreman at HENRY GRATTE’s NORTHAM BREWERY.

In Aug 1910, Turner applied for a 2 gallon licence for the Northam Brewery under transfer from Henry Gratte. However, by March 1911 he decided to move to GOOMALLING and go into the aerated water & cordial business on his own account. In May 1911 he transferred the 2 gallon licence at the Northam Brewery to George William York. Turner soon won awards at the Royal and local shows for his hop beer and other lines. His brother in law, HARRY ARNOLD had come out from England and is listed in Wises Post Office Directories as an aerated water manufacturer at Goomalling from 1917 – 1920.