Saxbys Soft Drinks - A Family Company since 1864

The story of Saxbys Soft Drinks is as unique and refreshing as the taste of their renowned stone ginger beer.

George Saxby, the founder of Saxbys Soft Drinks, was born in county Kent, England. He was originally a stonemason by trade but from an early age had a keen interest in chemistry in particular that of aerated waters. He migrated to Sydney in 1857 and boarded a coastal trader to the Manning River where he quickly displayed energy and enterprise by becoming one of the pioneers of the Taree district and community.

   In 1864, at the age of 27, he established the aerated drinks factory known then as "George Saxby, Manning
   River" at Chatham just near Taree. Around the same time he started the region's first newspaper, served as
   a local government councillor and was even Mayor of Taree for two terms.

In those days the now famous Saxbys Ginger Beer was brewed in large wooden casks and then packaged in ceramic bottles, which were filled and corked by hand. Delivery of the drinks from the factory at Chatham was by water. Small floats would take casks to Taree wharf, where they were despatched to the shops in the local area generally by wheel barrow.

   About the turn of the nineteenth century the successful Saxbys Soft Drinks business had re-located to Taree.
   By that time George's two sons Edwin (E.J.) Saxby and A.T. (Dolph) Saxby had already joined the company.
   Thus began a tradition that is still in place today, where the knowledge and experience gained from a lifetime
   of softdrink manufacturing is passed on from one generation to the next.

Now five generations later - Saxbys are Australia's oldest family operated softdrink manufacturer with over 140 years of experience in quenching the Australian thirst. The range of Saxbys flavours are wide as this sunburnt country. They are all made from original family recipes, many of which can be traced back to the time of George Saxby.

   Many of Saxbys Soft Drinks employees have served the company for over twenty years and, like the Saxby
   family themselves, have handed down their knowledge and experience from generation to generation.

   Today, this 5th generation business is still located just near the Manning River at Taree, and is Australia's
   oldest family owned soft drink manufacturer in Australia.

   Distribution of their wide range of flavours, diet drinks and ginger beer is nationwide, with distributors
   throughout Australia.